AAC Football

Connecticut head coach Randy Edsall doesn't sound like he will spend a lot of time recruiting players in the NCAA transfer portal. 

Per Alex Putterman of the Hartford Courant, Edsall called players who use the transfer portal "enabled and entitled."

"I'd rather go with high school kids or junior college guys," he said. "Guys going into the portal, they've got issues. That's why they're going into the portal." 

Here are Edsall's full remarks about why he's more or less swearing off transfers pic.twitter.com/hO0PJH7pdI

— Alex Putterman (@AlexPutterman) February 5, 2020

The NCAA established the transfer portal in Oct. 2018 as a way of organizing the list of student-athletes who were considering changing schools. 

Student-athletes are required to tell their current school's compliance department about their desire to transfer, which gives the school 48 hours to put their name into the portal. 

The process has drawn scrutiny from a number of coaches across the country. Penn State's James Franklin criticized it for enabling student-athletes to make decisions "driven by football" because "the college athletics that I grew up with was driven based on academics."

Former Washington head coach Chris Petersen told reporters last summer the transfer portal was bad for student-athletes because it “allows them to tap out” at one school and go to another. 

Use of the transfer portal has become common across the country in all sports, especially football. Last year, for instance, Heisman finalists Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma) and Justin Fields (Ohio State) were among the student-athletes who switched schools. 

Edsall did note Connecticut would consider players in the transfer portal if his staff had a pre-established relationship recruiting them out of high school or junior college.

Since returning to UConn in 2017, Edsall has a 6-30 record with no bowl appearances. The 61-year-old has a 98-127 career record as a head coach at Connecticut and Maryland. 

Houston quarterback D'Eriq King announced Monday he was entering the NCAA's transfer portal. 

King wrote he thought the decision was "best for me and my family":

https://twitter.com/DeriqKing_/status/1216933519471120395

The senior entered 2019 as the Cougars' starting quarterback before announcing in September he was sitting out the year in order to preserve his final year of eligibility for 2020.

The Athletic's Andy Staples explained at the time how the move benefited Houston. 

The Cougars, who had started 1-3 and would win four games, were effectively rebuilding in Dana Holgorsen's first season as head coach. They were particularly porous on defense, finishing 113th in points allowed (34.0) and 118th in yards allowed (467.5).

Staples noted Houston is getting some defensive help in 2020, so Houston stood to gain from King turning his focus to next year:

"By coming back when Houston will have the services of some notable currently-sitting-out-per-NCAA rules transfers (linebacker Eyabi Anoma, receiver Bryson Jackson, safety Hasaan Hypolite, cornerback Kelvin Clemmons, cornerback Marcus Jones and safety Thabo Mwaniki), King will join a more complete team. Notice which side of the ball most of those guys play on?"

Of course, the plan unravels in the event King leaves the team. Entering the transfer portal doesn't guarantee his departure, but he's bound to have interest from Power Five schools looking for an immediate fix at quarterback.

D’Eriq King entering the transfer portal makes Houston’s 2019 season even more bizarre. If he’d stayed, you could say they were saving him for a more favorable 2020. Now? 🤷‍♂️

— Greg Tepper (@Tepper) January 14, 2020

As a junior in 2018, King threw for 2,982 yards and 36 touchdowns while running for 674 yards and 14 scores. He began 2019 by throwing for 663 yards and six touchdowns through Houston's first four games. He showed off his running ability on a 35-yard touchdown run against Tulane:

.@UHCougarFB's D'Eriq King now has a pass TD and rush TD in 15 straight games, breaking Tim Tebow's previous record (14) for the longest streak in FBS history.

No other player has an active streak longer than 3 games. pic.twitter.com/gDhbXaPmjj

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 20, 2019

Losing King would be a huge blow to Holgorsen. Clayton Tune was the team's leading passer (1,533 yards, 11 touchdowns, nine interceptions) and will likely remain the starter with no quarterbacks committed to the Cougars in 2020.

ESPN's Sam Khan reported Arkansas is a "potential landing spot" for King. The Razorbacks hired Kendal Briles as their offensive coordinator, and Briles served in the same role for Houston in 2018.

Khan added that "multiple Power 5 conference programs are interested in King and have been anticipating the day he would enter the transfer portal."

Cincinnati ended its season on a high note after a 38-6 victory over Boston College in the 2020 Birmingham Bowl.

Desmond Ridder carried the offense with four total touchdowns on a rainy day at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, helping the team bounce back after consecutive losses to Memphis. The squad jumped out to a 24-0 lead and never looked back while rushing for 343 yards in a blowout victory.

Cincinnati (11-2) ends the year with its second straight 11-win season under Luke Fickell after the head coach took over a 4-8 squad in 2017.

Boston College (6-7) was trying to rally around interim coach Rich Gunnell, who was filling in for the fired Steve Addazio. However, the staff turnaround and the absence of star running back AJ Dillon was too much for the team to overcome.

     

Notable Stats

• Desmond Ridder, QB, CIN: 14-of-24, 95 passing yards, 1 TD, 105 rushing yards, 3 TDs
• Michael Warren II, RB, CIN: 21 carries, 105 rushing yards
• Malick Mbodj, WR, CIN: 3 catches, 17 receiving yards, 1 TD
• Dennis Grosel, QB, BC: 8-of-17, 87 passing yards
• David Bailey, RB, BC: 8 carries, 28 rushing yards
• Hunter Long, WR, BC: 2 catches, 45 receiving yards

             

Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati Thrive in Ugly Weather

The weather was a problem for both teams (and included a 92-minute lightning delay), but Cincinnati did the things necessary to take advantage.

The defense and special teams were as good as we have seen all year, making impact plays to change the game.

ADD ANOTHER BLOCK TO THE STATS!!

Elijah Ponder busts through the line to give the #Bearcats their SIXTH block of the year‼️#Bearcats: 7 | Boston College: 0
14:51 left in the half.

— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) January 2, 2020

Incredible timing by Bryan Wright to break through the line at the snap and force a fumble. BC recovered, but that was the senior linebacker's team-leading 11.5 TFL this season.

— Fletcher Page (@FletcherPage) January 2, 2020

Hell of a finale so far for Bryan Wright. He recovers his second fumble of the season, sets the Bearcats up just 19 yards from the end zone.

— Fletcher Page (@FletcherPage) January 2, 2020

Bryan Wright was all over the field for the Bearcats defense and was one of the best players on either side of the ball.

Offensively, the passing game wasn't always working, but the team found ways to move the football thanks to the offensive line.

Another touchdown run for Ridder, this one from 14 yards out. #Bearcats immediately capitalize on the turnover, are completely dominating the line of scrimmage.

UC up 17-0 with 7:05 left in the half.

— Justin Williams (@Williams_Justin) January 2, 2020

Desmond Ridder took advantage, rushing for two first-half touchdowns and finishing with 105 yards on the ground. He also got more comfortable as a passer in the second half and ended up leading four total scoring drives of at least 10 plays.

Once Michael Warren II got going alongside him, there was nothing Boston College could do to stop this offense.

The weather could've been enough to slow some teams down, but the Bearcats didn't have any problems Thursday.

      

Boston College Can't Generate Offense Without AJ Dillon

With 1,880 yards from scrimmage this season, AJ Dillon has twice as many as anyone else on the Eagles. The running back's 15 touchdowns were also seven more than runner-up David Bailey.

This made it an especially big loss when the junior announced last month he wouldn't compete in the bowl game in preparation for the NFL draft. It's not easy to replace 4,382 career rushing yards, especially after first-string quarterback Anthony Brown went down for the year with a torn ACL in October.

It left the Eagles unable to move the chains and overmatched against Cincinnati.

Cincinnati has looked like a 10-win team that figures if it has to play in a third-tier bowl game it might as well win the damn thing.

BC has looked like a 6-6 team with an interim coach and without its star RB, who decided to sit this one out.

— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoATH) January 2, 2020

Would've been cool to see UC play someone other than another mediocre ACC opponent in a bowl game...

It's early 4th and Desmond Ridder is already on the bench. #Bearcats @fox19

— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) January 3, 2020

Bailey has a chance to be a key player in 2020, but he was held to just 28 rushing yards in the loss.

Dennis Grosel also found little success while completing 47 percent of his passes, with 40 of his 87 yards coming on one play to Hunter Long.

The only excitement from Boston College's perspective came on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown.

https://twitter.com/accnetwork/status/1212883507292332040

It was a disappointing overall showing as the squad clinched just its second losing season in the last seven years.

South Florida has fired head coach Charlie Strong, the school announced Sunday.

"I would like to thank Coach Strong and his staff for their hard work and contributions to our program," USF Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly said in a statement. "I have tremendous respect for Coach Strong and his dedication to recruiting and developing young men of talent and character and leading them with integrity. He has represented USF with dignity and class and we wish Coach and his family the very best."

Strong wrapped up his third season as the Bulls' coach with a 34-7 loss to UCF on Friday. They went 21-16 under his watch but finished 4-8 in 2019.

The Strong era started off brightly as USF won 10 games, beat Texas Tech in the Birmingham Bowl and finished 21st in the AP Top 25 and Coaches polls.

Things quickly took a turn for the worse. Alabama transfer Blake Barnett struggled as the starting quarterback after succeeding Quinton Flowers. Barnett threw for 2,705 yards, 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2018 and then made four appearances in 2019 before undergoing season-ending ankle surgery.

The USF defense was also a mess despite Strong initially building his reputation as a defensive coordinator. The Bulls finished last year 80th in Football Outsiders' S&P+ defense rating. They entered Week 14 sitting in 51st in SP+ defense, per ESPN's Bill Connelly.

Hiring Strong appeared to be a smart move, but few can argue with USF's decision on Sunday.

https://twitter.com/alex_kirshner/status/1201237721345380352

Bringing Strong aboard was a signal of intent by the program. He had just come off stints at Louisville and Texas, and he was the 16th highest-paid coach in FBS ($5 million), per USA Today.

The Athletic's Bruce Feldman and Tampa Bay Times' Joey Knight speculated Willie Taggart might be a target:

With Charlie Strong being fired at #USF, would not be surprised if the school tries to bring back Willie Taggart who was well-respected by the power brokers there. He's a local guy and knows the ins-and-outs of what that place is about. Plus, he's still getting paid by FSU.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 1, 2019

Now that it's official, I'll share this: I have learned Willie Taggart is very interested in returning to #USF should the opportunity arise. Uncomfortable spot for him because he's very close with Charlie Strong, but he loves Tampa.

— Joey Knight (@TBTimes_Bulls) December 1, 2019

Florida State fired Taggart midway through this year after he had compiled a 9-12 record.

Taggart was responsible for laying the groundwork that Strong would later benefit from, however. Taggart took over at USF in 2013. The team saw its record improve over each of the next three seasons, culminating in an 11-2 campaign in 2016.

The 18th-ranked Memphis Tigers inched one step closer to a New Year's Six bowl game with a 34-24 victory over the 19th-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats on Friday.  

Chris Claybrooks got the Tigers off to a fast start by opening the game with a 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Quarterback Brady White led the offense with 233 yards and two touchdowns.

Ben Bryant threw for 229 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for the Bearcats in his first career start. He was filling in for an injured Desmond Ridder (shoulder), who started the first 11 games.

Memphis (11-1) clinched the AAC West title with the victory, while Cincinnati (10-2) previously clinched the AAC East.

Notable Performances

Cincinnati

QB Ben Bryant: 20/32, 229 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions; 11 carries, one touchdown

RB Michael Warren II: 21 carries, 122 yards, one touchdown

TE Josiah Deguara: four catches, 46 yards

Memphis

QB Brady White: 15/26, 233 yards, two touchdowns, one interception

RB Kenneth Gainwell: 15 carries, 87 yards

WR Damonte Coxie: six catches, 145 yards, one touchdown

WR Kedarian Jones: two catches, 53 yards, one touchdown

Strong Start Powers Tigers to Victory

Memphis has had little trouble putting points up on the scoreboard this season, entering Friday averaging 42.2 points per game. It had been held below 30 just once in its last 10 games.

Right out of the gates, the Tigers came out ready to play.

Claybrooks set the tone for the game by taking the opening kickoff 94 yards to the house—and the Tigers were just getting started. White proceeded to lead Memphis to scores on each of its first two offensive drives, with the Cincinnati defense allowing both a 32-yard run and a 44-yard pass in the opening quarter.

Those big plays led to a touchdown and a field goal on the Tigers' first two offensive drives, resulting in a 17-3 lead in the first.

Cincinnati managed to battle back and tie the score in the second. The Bearcats held the Tigers to a total of three points over the middle two quarters, but ultimately, White made just enough plays to get the job done.

   

Bold Gamble Proves Costly for Bearcats

Trailing 20-17 late in the third quarter, Cincinnati had a chance to even the score by way of a 34-yard field goal. Luke Fickell instead opted to roll the dice and go for it on 4th-and-1.

It did not work out, as Warren was stuffed short of the sticks. That opened the door for Memphis to put the game away.

White responded by leading an 83-yard drive that put the Tigers back up by two possessions with just more than 13 minutes to play. At that point, Cincinnati had its work cut out for itself.

The Bearcats had an opportunity to get the football back down three with less than five minutes to play. However, an unsportsmanlike penalty on defensive end Myjai Sanders following an incompletion on 3rd-and-10 extended a Memphis drive. The Tigers took advantage of the mistake, driving down the field for a game-sealing touchdown.

Touchdown Memphis. Gibson from 29 out. 34-24. #Bearcats down two scores with only 3:16 remaining.

UC looked to get off the field before a personal foul by Sanders after a 3rd down stop.

— Justin Williams (@Williams_Justin) November 29, 2019

Cincinnati entered Friday's showdown having lost just once this season, which came on the road against the current No. 1 team in the nation (Ohio State) on Sept. 7. The Bearcats had been far from dominant during their nine-game winning streak, though, with three of their past four victories coming by three points or less.

Facing their first ranked opponent in nearly two months, the Bearcats' luck finally ran out as the mistakes piled up.

    

What's Next

Memphis will host Cincinnati in the AAC championship game on Dec. 7.

How did SMU finally recover from the death penalty? Should Chase Young be the Heisman Trophy favorite? And what are November's must-see games? Adam Kramer takes on those questions and more in the third installment of his 2019 college football notebook.

          

Sonny Dykes was in high school when his favorite football program was sentenced to death. At the time, in 1987, he wasn't sure what it meant. No football program had previously received this punishment—the result of years of wide-ranging payments made to players, even after the program had been placed on probation in 1985—and none has since.    

Dykes, now 49, grew up in Big Spring, Texas, about a four-hour drive from Dallas and the SMU campus. He knew just how potent the area was when it came to producing high school talent, and knowing that, he assumed it was only a matter of time before the Pony Express resumed a run of dominance that had seen it go 41-5-1 from 1981 to '84.

The team was banned for the 1987 season—prompting an exodus of players and coaches. In 1988, it remained on ice, practicing but not participating in games. But it was after that, ironically, when the team returned to the field in 1989, that reality hit with a 2-9 season. Then 1-10. Then 1-10 again. Outside a handful of semi-successful seasons, SMU proceeded to spend the next three decades as a football doormat.

Dykes kept tabs on the school as his own football career grew—from coaching Texas high school ball to assisting at Texas Tech to heading up a rebuild at Cal.

Then after a four-year stint at Cal, Dykes was named SMU head coach in December 2017. "This is a place I had my eyes on for a long time," Dykes tells B/R. "There are so many things that are attractive about the program, and I love being able to live in Dallas. My wife and I still talk about it every day. We wake up in the morning and we talk about how happy we are to be here."

His vision for the program, at least when he took over, was to bring it back in three or four years. But even in his first season, 2018, the team went 5-7 and there were signs that the rebuild would come in ahead of schedule.

"I thought when we went and played Michigan last year, we really battled those guys—even though we ended up losing by a couple of scores," Dykes says. "We lost to a really good Cincinnati team in overtime, and we probably should have won the game. There were moments when you thought you were headed in the right direction. There were others when I thought it may take a little longer than I originally thought."

Then came this season and the 8-0 start, including a win over ranked TCU, that has the program already tied for its highest win total since 1984. Dykes' team is averaging 43.6 points per game, seventh in the nation, and had climbed as high as No. 15 in the AP rankings—after not being featured in polling since the death penalty—before finally losing a game this past Saturday.

Over the past three decades, the ritual of defeat had grown common at SMU. But this year, even the one loss didn't come quietly—a 54-48 thriller against No. 24 Memphis.

With three wins in its final four games—home against East Carolina, at No. 25 Navy, home against Tulane and then a bowl game—SMU could even tie for its highest total since 1935.

And this is just the beginning. For Dykes, the thrill of SMU's rise in 2019—one of the best stories of the college football season—is only a preview of what he hopes to build in the years ahead.

The expedited rebuild can be traced back to a few factors, he says: inherited talent that has flourished under his tenure coupled with a jolt of meaningful transfers, the most notable being former Texas quarterback Shane Buechele, whose 23 passing touchdowns this year are tied for ninth nationally.

All these years after that high schooler assumed SMU couldn't stay down long, optimism has finally returned. And others are taking notice.

For Dykes, that has made the past few months all the more satisfying.

"You walk around, and there's SMU everywhere now," Dykes says. "There are bumper stickers on cars, and people wearing it on hats and sweatshirts. There's just a general excitement around the university right now. It's just been fun to be a part of it."

         

Yes, Chase Young should be the Heisman favorite

Heisman voters, let's talk. Yes, Ohio State's Chase Young plays defense. But that doesn't mean you should follow the same archaic, maddening voting practices as usual and not truly consider him for the award.

I know you love giving this piece of bronze to quarterbacks. And if not them, then running backs. And there are some good ones in this year's group, without question. But no player has been as dominant and impactful this season as Young.

The Buckeyes' do-everything defensive end has 13.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss in eight games. And it's not just the numbers; it's the impact on seemingly every play Young is on the field.

He should be the favorite to win the Heisman.

He isn't and he won't, because the award has shown no signs of evolving—just ask Ndamukong Suh and Aaron Donald, defensive linemen who unleashed magical seasons that were Heisman-worthy. But Young has the stats and the traits and the team to change that. Now it's up to the voters to acknowledge him.

                     

Welcome to the Silly Season, college football's most exciting, deflating yearly ritual

Yes, the high-profile coaches fired each year are mostly millionaires. Willie Taggart will reportedly take home more than $18 million in buyout money to not coach Florida State anymore. USC will eventually fire head coach Clay Helton. It's inevitable.

Other schools will join in the trend—paying coaches small fortunes to go away. The excitement that builds from this across social media and message boards will create tidal waves, especially at schools with strong histories and large pocketbooks. And it's hard not to get swept up in the madness of it all.

It is exciting. And optimism for fanbases will and should run wild. But there is an underbelly of this that often goes ignored. Full coaching staffs will have to scramble to find new work. Their kids will be asked to change schools.

This doesn't mean we shouldn't all have fun with the rumors that will commence immediately. But be mindful of what's taking place for so many others.

              

Yes, the College Football Playoff release show is unnecessary, and, yes, you should watch every minute of it

From this point forward, your Tuesday nights are taken. The CFP release show is back, which means the rage and anger and disappointment that stems from the selection committee's snubbing your team has returned.

There will be five Tuesday night shows, all of which are utterly excessive. The Sunday show December 8 is the only one that matters—the day the playoff is officially decided. (These shows are meant to increase interest and sell advertisements, and they do an excellent job of both.)

But while ranking teams at this juncture may seem unnecessary, it's also entertaining. Excess isn't always a bad thing, and the rankings allow us to dive deep into the mindset of a group of human beings given the impossible task.

I will be watching, and if you're reading this column, you should be too. Let the anger flow through us each Tuesday night in November. 

                 

Cancel your plans for these five games this month

1. No. 1 LSU at No. 2 Alabama, Nov. 9 (Week 11): We called it the "Game of the Century" a while back. Then we did it again. And sure, let's do it once more: No. 1 vs. No. 2.

The storylines are endless. LSU's rapid offensive evolution. Tua Tagovailoa's ankle injury. Playoff implications. SEC bragging rights. You could write 5,000 words on this game without breaking a sweat.

No, it's not an elimination game. But that doesn't make it any less significant. This is why you watch college football, for games like this.

2. No. 5 Penn State at No. 3 Ohio State, Nov. 23 (Week 13): It may not carry the same weight as LSU-Alabama, but the significance and general intrigue between Penn State and Ohio State will be enormous.

Both teams are 5-0 in the Big Ten East—two fewer losses than the next-best team—so, barring something weird happening in the next few weeks, the winner here will be bound for the Big Ten Championship Game.

Penn State does have a bit of work to do beforehand—and we'll get to that. But regardless, this will be a spectacular matchup.

3. No. 6 Georgia at No. 12 Auburn, Nov. 16 (Week 12): When I think of SEC football in mid-November, I think of games like this: Two teams with enormous expectations that have experienced remarkable highs and violent lows during the year.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Georgia-Auburn, though, is we're not quite sure what it'll mean come playoff time.

Georgia controls its fate in the SEC East, sitting a loss ahead of Florida, while Auburn closes out the season with games against the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide after enduring a schedule that has been anything but favorable.

Time will tell what exactly this game means, but it could impact teams well outside the SEC.

4. No. 2 Alabama at No. 12 Auburn, Nov. 30 (Week 14): Of course, the Iron Bowl is on here. It's the Iron Bowl.

The fact that the game is being played at Auburn is certainly relevant. What it means for both teams—particularly Alabama—will likely be dictated by what happens Saturday against LSU.

Still, this is one of the greatest rivalries in a sport celebrated for these types of games. It will still crack this list if Auburn loses to Georgia. This is a game you should always cancel all plans for and consume without interruption.

5. No. 5 Penn State at No. 13 Minnesota, Nov. 9 (Week 11), and No. 3 Ohio State at No. 14 Michigan, Nov. 30 (Week 14): Let's bundle two Big Ten games for the final spot. While no one envisioned that Penn State and Minnesota would meet in mid-November as undefeateds, that's precisely what will happen Saturday.

Minnesota scrapped through some ugly close calls early on, although its play has vastly improved. Penn State, meanwhile, is seemingly crisper and more dominant every week.

As for Ohio State and Michigan, the narrative is pretty established by now: Can Jim Harbaugh finally beat the Buckeyes?

A month ago, the thought would've seemed outrageous. But the Wolverines have quietly, steadily improved. Can they can finally conquer this specific demon? For now, let's just say this game could end up a lot closer than we originally thought.

(Or not.)

               

Final takeaways: More must-see TV and CFB

1. Don't let the College Football Playoff blind you from other great things that are taking place around the sport. I love the playoff, and I believe it's necessary. But I don't love that it outshines most everything in CFB come November. There is so much more to celebrate than that. Expand your palate if you haven't already.

2. The Curse of Oak Island is back on television this week. If you enjoy treasure-hunting shows that are speculative, normally without treasure and occasionally fascinating, you should check out this History Channel production. I love it. I hate it. Nothing seems to actually happen. They pretty much only find old buttons and coins. And I refuse to quit.

3. Speaking of television, I thought El Camino, Breaking Bad's Netflix follow-up, was perfectly fine. Not brilliant. Certainly not bad. Beautifully shot. Wonderfully acted. And while it didn't move things all that far in the story, they sure know how to make great television. Also, Jesse Pinkman is an all-time character.

4. Yes, I want players to be able to profit off their likeness at the collegiate level. And yes, I want them to profit off their likeness so EA Sports' NCAA Football franchise can return and we can throw our arms around it with a warm embrace. I wrote about the CFB video game franchise this past summer—exploring the joy in the creation and the cult-like following it has garnered. It feels like we're getting closer thanks to the movement the NCAA can no longer run from. For those who loved this game—and for someone, like myself, who used to simulate the season and then post results on blogs and even this website—I yearn for the moment the childish tradition will return.

5. Have you watched Memphis running back Kenneth Gainwell yet? I didn't think it was possible to upgrade from Darrell Henderson, who was brilliant last season for the Tigers. But they might have. The freshman is one of the brightest young stars in the sport. As a whole, that Memphis team is all sorts of fun.

6. I will be at Alabama-LSU on Saturday. While covering college football at Bleacher Report is indeed a "job," being able to attend games of this stature is still something I appreciate beyond words. Deep down, I'm a football junkie. I love the sport. Look for all sorts of content from the game this weekend.

7. It snowed in my hometown on Halloween. A few thoughts and observations about that: A) My children still trick-or-treated for two hours; B) Dad found ways to stay warm; and C) Might be time to move.

8. The Urban Meyer-to-USC rumors are unsurprising and still fascinating. The former Florida and Ohio State coach could very well become the first head coach in college football to make more than $10 million per season. But will he leave his television gig? He's quite good at it, but maybe the USC job is intriguing enough to come out of retirement again? Or Florida State? At this point, it's hard to say. But the story will consume the sport in the weeks to follow.

9. The season-ending ACL injury to Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State's star junior wideout, is such a bummer. Over the past two seasons, few offensive players have been more impactful. Just a massive loss for the Pokes.

10. In July, former Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen died at age 38. The QB, known in college as the Hefty Lefty, struggled with obesity during and after football—the root cause of his passing. Last week, I wrote a story on Lorenzen, his life, his death and his legacy. Quite honestly, I don't think I'll ever forget this one. The heartbreak of having to write about a life gone too soon and the love that so many had for him was truly challenging. These types of stories stay with you when you write them and long after. But they are also why I do what I do. It was a privilege to report and publish.

         

Adam Kramer covers college football for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @KegsnEggs.

What does D'Eriq King's decision to redshirt mean for college football? How soon will athletes get endorsements? And what are October's must-see games? Adam Kramer takes on those questions and more in a quarterback-heavy second installment of the 2019 college football notebook.

               

Looking back at them now, nearly two months later, Dana Holgorsen's comments resonate differently than they did at the time.       

Holgorsen, the first-year head coach at Houston, fresh off an eight-year stint at West Virginia, thought he had the luxury of inheriting a starting quarterback, D'Eriq King, who was coming off a 50-touchdown year. The thing he didn't have—or so he thought—was more time.

"I really wish I had two years to work with him," Holgorsen told B/R about his senior quarterback for a story published back in late August.

That would have given Holgorsen more than a few months to develop his new QB and acclimate him to a new offense. There wasn't much more to the words, at the time.

But now—after losing three of the first four games, and after it was announced last week that King will redshirt the season, taking advantage of an NCAA rule that allows players to see action in four games and still defer their eligibility—the comments feel different.

Speculation over where King will land has run rampant, especially after his father indicated he planned to transfer. At least temporarily, King has squashed the idea that that's what he's planning.

"I came here to play football for the University of Houston, and that is not changing," King said in a statement. "After carefully thinking through this process with my family and Coach Holgorsen, I have decided the opportunity to redshirt this season gives me the best chance to develop as a player, earn my degree and set me up for the best success in the future. I'm looking forward to being part of the success of this program going forward."

The word "loophole" has been utilized while describing King's tactics. Originally, the spirit of this redshirt rule was meant to focus on underclassmen, affording them the option to see the field late in the season and still hold on to their redshirt.

But given the situation for the player, the coach and the program, this decision is shrewd. Loophole or not, there's no fine print disallowing it. (Although that could soon change.)

For King, a 5'11" player who hopes to crack the NFL as a quarterback, this extra year could be the difference. He's spent the better part of his collegiate career bouncing between wide receiver and quarterback while also battling injuries. The ability to redshirt offers him time that was lost. Reps. Crucial development hours and practices.

For Holgorsen, it's a chance to regroup with one of the most productive offensive players the program has ever developed.

For Houston, it's just plain good roster management. At a time when tanking is taking over the sporting world, this is the closest thing college football has seen. (It's worth noting that Houston pummeled North Texas 46-25 in its first game without King this past Saturday.)

Sitting King won't earn Houston a higher draft pick. It simply allows the program one more year of his services—assuming he sees his commitment through.

And for those who take issue with this, for whatever reason, here's a simple question: Who does it harm? Why should we care or feel negatively if all parties are happy with the arrangement?

Call it a loophole. Fine. But at a time when an athlete's options are limited, more teams and players will and should execute this strategic manipulation.

That is if the NCAA doesn't address this first, which wouldn't be the least bit surprising.

And if for whatever reason you're still hanging on to the impression that this clouds the outdated, evolving definition of a student-athlete, I have news for you: King's redshirt is merely the beginning. If this makes you angry, you're not going to like where the rest of the sport is headed.

(Oh, and nicely done getting that second year, Holgorsen.)

           

Players are about to get paid, one way or another

On the topic of change, behold the Fair Pay to Play Act that California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed. This means that collegiate athletes in the state of California will be allowed to sign endorsement deals without penalty from the NCAA. It will go into effect in January 2023.

There will be more movement before then. Florida, another talent-rich state, has gotten the ball rolling on a similar bill. Other states will soon follow. The NCAA, meanwhile, will have to react with its walls closing in.

The governing body recently assembled a task force to assess the possibility of allowing its athletes to seek sponsors, although California's decision changes the issue's tone and ups the stakes abruptly.

There will be more bills. And there will be extensive time in court fighting over them. But the reality is that the NCAA's future existence is suddenly at its doorstep.

This is not the end. This is the start of something groundbreaking, something that has been threatening the archaic standard for some time. And whether it becomes reality in 2023 or even earlier, it's clear that the players will soon have the ability to capitalize off their stardom.

There is no running from this, NCAA. Change is coming.

(It's about time.) 

        

Death to preseason polls

They move the needle. They stir up conversation. They build interest for the season ahead.

They also linger throughout the year, skew future polls and potential playoff decisions.

The fact that Clemson is the No. 2-ranked football team in the AP poll is maddening. The fact that the Tigers still received 18 first-place votes this week is even more so.

That is not to say Clemson isn't a really good football team and capable of winning everything again. It's simply acknowledging what should be obvious for this year's preseason No. 1 after five weeks of "meh" performances and a close call Saturday against North Carolina.

Other teams have looked much, much better. Alabama should be and now is ranked higher. But also: So should LSU. And Georgia. And Ohio State. And probably Oklahoma. And maybe Auburn.

I'd like to say it won't matter. But human beings are not immune to bias, and these polls will ultimately decide the College Football Playoff entrants. This, unfortunately, does matter.

The Tigers are not alone in this discussion. (Michigan and UCF, I see you.) But they do remind us how silly and counterproductive this exercise is.

There is no good reason a football poll of any kind should exist before October 1.

(Unless it's Bleacher Report's ranking. In that case, violently click on that link and share it with as many people as possible.)

         

Cancel your plans for these five games this month

October is a wonderful month. Halloween. Weather that is conducive to not sweating, at least in many places around the United States. And beefy conference games with massive implications.

It's an SEC-heavy month. That shouldn't be all that shocking given the current Top 10. In fact, the SEC could've made a case for more real estate below.

But in the interest of not having to write about the same program three times in one section, the top five games are as follows. Weeks 7 and 9 are absolute doozies.

1. Wisconsin at Ohio State, October 26 (Week 9): If Ohio State continues on its path of destruction, this highly anticipated game could end up wildly lopsided.

That's not a knock on Wisconsin, which has looked excellent for much of the year—the exception coming in a sloppy, offensively challenged performance against Northwestern. Rather, it's merely being respectful of Ohio State, which looks like the most balanced team in the sport.

What the Buckeyes look like come late October will be telling. Running back Jonathan Taylor will likely be asked to do the heavy lifting for the Badgers against a gifted defensive front (and we know Taylor will be eager to do so). And Wisconsin will have to slow QB Justin Fields, who's so far shown no signs he can be slowed.

In theory, this game should be close. (In theory.)

2. Auburn at LSU, October 26 (Week 9): The environment in Baton Rouge will be nothing short of organized insanity—especially if both teams are undefeated.

It's hard not to zoom in on the quarterbacks, largely because both have created shock waves in different ways. LSU's Joe Burrow is a man transformed. His throws and decisions (and yes, the playbook) are vastly improved. It's still hard to believe that this is LSU just toying with defenses after years of boa-constrictor football.

For Auburn, Bo Nix isn't quite there in terms of his development, but he's been electric as a true freshman. While he's already played at large, difficult venues, this will be the toughest setting he plays in all year.

One of the best offenses in the country goes up against one of the nation's best defenses. Yes, please.

3. Oklahoma at Texas, October 12 (Week 7): There will be fried food. Lots of it. This much we know about the Red River Rivalry.

We also know that the QBs in this game could score 10 or more touchdowns combined. That's not meant to be a hot take. Jalen Hurts and Sam Ehlinger will put on a show.

The argument could be made that no quarterback has been better this year than Hurts, who has taken to his new football home extraordinarily well, emerging as a top Heisman Trophy contender. He finally threw his first interception against Texas Tech on Saturday, but his performance through his first four games has been nearly perfect.

Ehlinger, meanwhile, has been exceptional, confirming he's ready to carry the load for a Texas team that's fully emerging from its long stretch of (relative) mediocrity. The Longhorns' loss to LSU cooled the hype some, but the offense should do its part. Whether it can keep up with Oklahoma, however, is a different story.

4. Florida vs. Auburn, October 5 (Week 6), and Florida at LSU, October 12 (Week 7): Yes, this is probably cheating. But rather than showcase back-to-back Florida games individually, we're doubling up the No. 4 spot with a brutal stretch for the Gators.

Since the loss of Feleipe Franks to a dislocated ankle on September 14—and really since that sloppy Week 0 performance against Miami—the Gators have largely been overlooked. But that can change come October with matchups against Auburn and at LSU. (Florida also plays Georgia a few weeks later on November 2, which is not the nicest of gifts from the scheduling gods.)

SEC cannibalization is coming, and it will begin immediately. While Florida feels a step below Auburn and probably two steps below LSU, it is very capable team if the offense is going.

Let the conference carnage begin.

5. Penn State at Iowa, October 12 (Week 7): This matchup has produced zingers over the years, including a 6-4 Iowa win in 2004. Who doesn't love 6-4 wins?

But while offense has historically been a challenge in the series, that doesn't seem likely to be the case here.

Both teams, undefeated, seem to be trending upward as October approaches. Iowa just produced more yards in a game (644), against Middle Tennessee State, than any game in the Kirk Ferentz era, which began in 1999. Penn State, meanwhile, just blew the doors off Maryland 59-0.

Iowa will travel to Michigan beforehand, which will undoubtedly be a test and an important game in its own right. But for a series that has manufactured weirdness over the years, this feels like a natural next chapter with significant implications.

        

Final takeaways: Football, food, lawn care and other randomness

1. It's been two weeks, and I still haven't gotten over the fact that Anthony Gordon threw nine touchdowns in a single game…and lost. That Washington State-UCLA game will be burned into my brain until the end of time.

2. Let's talk about Madison, Wisconsin. I made the drive from Illinois to this lovely football town for Wisconsin's shellacking of Michigan—hanging out with the Stick to Football crew from B/R through the weekend. What a city. What a game-day venue. I've been to Madison plenty of times before, and each time I fall more in love with that campus and everything it has to offer. Yeah, the weather sucks for a good chunk of the year. That's about the only negative thing you can offer. If you've never been to a game there, do it. The food, the people and the atmosphere are superb.

3. New (well, the show really isn't new) television show recommendation: Mindhunter. I'm late to this party but just glad to be here. For a dark and, at times, disturbing show about serial killers, it's extremely bingeable. Worth your time if you haven't seen it.

4. NFL tidbit: Why even review pass interference if you're not going to overturn blatant defensive pass interference that was missed on the field? In the college football world, we complain about the gray areas surrounding targeting calls. This is that on steroids.

5. NFL tidbit, part two: I've never seen anything like Patrick Mahomes in the NFL. The throws, the stats, the absurdity. All of it. While he was in college, we knew he was special at certain things. He once threw 88 passes in a game against Oklahoma, and I will never forget watching that game in the airport and cackling the entire time. But what he's doing now is truly unbelievable. I don't watch nearly as much NFL as college, but I will make a point to watch Mahomes whenever possible.

6. Monthly lawn tip: I am a lawn freak. When I'm not watching football or doing dad things with three children, I am doing whatever I can to make my lawn look as obnoxious as possible. I have found an elixir to make that even easier for those who share my lifestyle: Milorganite. Read up on it, purchase it and spread it across your lawn before winter kicks in. It's a game-changer for those of you looking to embarrass your neighbors in every way.

7. I've tried to think of an ascension that parallels what we've seen from Burrow this year. Not just a quarterback who improved drastically over his collegiate tenure, but one who blossomed into a legitimate Heisman candidate and potential first-round draft pick overnight. No one really comes to mind. Burrow has just been unbelievable, and the influence of Joe Brady, LSU's new passing-game coordinator, has been larger than any coaching addition this offseason. Just fascinating growth.

8. How about SMU? Once a laughing stock and one of the worst teams in college football, the ponies are unbeaten as the calendar flips. We'll see if the success holds against teams like Memphis and Temple, but SMU's been a sneaky-good early storyline.

9. Playing defensive back against Alabama looks miserable. Pick your poison: Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III or DeVonta Smith. Oh, and Tua Tagovailoa serving it up to them. Just no fun at all.

10. Untitled Goose Game: Let's talk about it. In this video game, which is very real, you are a goose essentially causing goose-like havoc around town—chasing people, stealing mail and doing other goose-related tasks. It sounds ridiculous, yes? It is. It's also an amazing thing you need to experience if you haven't already.

                     

Adam Kramer covers college football for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @KegsnEggs.

Green Waves don’t play for overtime.

Tulane stunned the Houston Cougars in a 38-31 victory in Thursday’s American Athletic Conference showdown with an incredible touchdown on its final offensive play. With the game tied and 12 seconds remaining at the snap, Justin McMillan rifled a pass through multiple defenders before Jalen McCleskey did the rest.

WHAT A FINISH! #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/SEtz8djsTG

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 20, 2019

McCleskey caught the ball and stayed on his feet despite a stumble and broke free from the three defenders in the area for a 53-yard touchdown.

Tulane was only in position to win with the dramatics because of a fake kneel down that resulted in an 18-yard run from Amare Jones on the previous play. 

It was only fitting that such a back-and-forth game ended in memorable fashion. Tulane marched 93 yards in 10 plays to tie the game late in the third quarter and then benefitted from a missed Houston field goal on the ensuing possession. The two sides then traded field goals before the Green Wave’s head-turning final touchdown.

McMillan was just 7-of-20 passing for 186 yards, but he ran for 91 yards and a score. He also threw for three touchdowns and zero interceptions, while his counterpart, D’Eriq King, had two touchdown throws and one pick to go with his 229 yards through the air.

King added 116 rushing yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to counter Tulane’s offense.

The Green Wave will look to keep the momentum rolling with a game against Army on Oct. 5, while Houston turns its attention toward a contest against North Texas on Sept. 28.

Cincinnati Bearcats sophomore safety Kyriq McDonald collapsed on the field during Saturday's game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, according to Tom VanHaaren of ESPN, and was taken to the Ohio State University hospital for "precautionary measures."

The entire Cincinnati team and a few Ohio State players gathered around Kyriq McDonald as he was placed on a cart and taken off the field. pic.twitter.com/ZHmXceqRCM

— Colin Hass-Hill (@chasshill) September 7, 2019

Per that report, McDonald fell to the ground without contact and began convulsing before being attended to by the medical staffs on both teams. He was reacting to an Ohio State player about to attempt to block him on a run play when he fell over. 

McDonald's mother told ESPN sideline reporter Allison Williams that he has a history with seizures, though it is unclear if he suffered one on Saturday.

Been noted by several folks that McDonald had a seizure during CFP championship game two seasons ago. He's an Alabama transfer.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) September 7, 2019

Scary situation in Atlanta: Alabama DB Kyriq McDonald has collapsed on the sideline. A stretcher is out. pic.twitter.com/YDy0bfs6pu

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 9, 2018

He was sitting up and appeared to be communicating with teammates as he was taken off the field. He was also reportedly alert in the locker room.

Kyriq McDonald “alert and responding” in the locker room after being carted off. Out for the rest of the game. @NewsRecord_UC

— Matt Huffmon (@matt_huffmon) September 7, 2019

McDonald was recruited by Alabama in 2017 and redshirted his first year before playing in 11 games for the Crimson Tide last season, posting seven tackles. He transferred in April and was given an immediate-eligibility waiver by the NCAA, allowing him to play with the Bearcats immediately. 

HOUSTON — The silver No. 4 pendant dangling from D'Eriq King's necklace tells a story.    

For starters, he never wanted that jersey number when he arrived at Houston as a true freshman three years ago. He wanted No. 2. But when the team's starting running back at the time, Duke Catalon, wanted to don No. 2 at the last minute, King was forced to give it up. The team gave him No. 4 instead.

Looking back now, inside Houston's football complex one week before fall camp will begin, King can smile about it. And everything else. His jersey number. Injuries. Position changes. Coaches who refused to offer him a scholarship to play quarterback because of his size. Even his own high school coaches who echoed their concerns.

"My dad always told me that when you are 6'3" or 6'4", you've got to prove that you can't play quarterback," King says. "At 5'10" or 5'11", you have to prove you can play quarterback."

Whether King is actually 5'11", the height listed on his official bio, feels almost insignificant in the moment. Not just because Baker Mayfield (6'1" but listed by Oklahoma at 6'2" when he was there) and Kyler Murray (5'10") won Heismans before being drafted No. 1 overall. Or because of the success quarterbacks like Drew Brees (6'0") or Russell Wilson (5'11") have had in the NFL. But also because of all those touchdowns that have already proved everyone who doubted him wrong.

King scored 50 touchdowns in 2018—36 passing and 14 rushing—many of them the result of his electric improvisation, moments made for the highlight reels.

Only two quarterbacks in the country, Murray and Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins, scored more. And they both needed a full 14-game season to score 54 times. King posted his number in only 10-and-a-half games.

Had he not torn his meniscus in his right knee in mid-November, a run at Colt Brennan's FBS record of 63 touchdowns was very possible. Even as is, it ranks 22nd all-time.

"I'm not trying to be cocky, but I think I would have got pretty close to the record," King says. "In the back of my mind, I always knew what I was capable of. Proving it to everyone else feels good."

Caught between what almost never was and what might have been, King is the subject of endless questions. What if he played at Oklahoma or Ohio State rather than Houston? What if he was just three inches taller? And what if his right foot hadn't gotten awkwardly caught in the turf?

The hypotheticals no longer concern him. Not after a lifetime of doubt. Perhaps there is a more appropriate question as he enters his final collegiate season, hoping to provide an encore.

What if the best is still to come?

---

He was 125 pounds when he arrived at Manvel High School, a Texas powerhouse 23 miles from where he plays today. The coaches didn't think much of him at the time of his arrival, burying him at eighth-string on the depth chart before his sophomore year.

As a freshman, King played at Westbury Christian High School, coached by his father, Eric, who decided that Manvel would be a better place for his son's gifts to thrive. D'Eriq protested the idea, but he and his older brother, KeShon, changed schools regardless.

He was offered few opportunities to showcase much of anything in practices at first. But then, as the season approached, King got a look.

The call was 13 Zone, a zone-read play to the left side of the field. King tucked the ball and did what he does: Scored. Easily. And like that, the coaching staff was interested.

Over the days that followed, he was given more chances and climbed the depth chart. Fifth string. Third string. By the first game, he rotated series with another quarterback. In a matter of weeks, he was cemented as the starter.

King eclipsed 10,000 yards passing and 3,000 rushing in his four high school seasons. He threw for 140 touchdowns and only 21 interceptions. He also scored 48 touchdowns on the ground. His senior year, he broke the career Texas 6A passing touchdown record, which was previously set by Murray, widely considered to be one of the greatest high school football players ever.

Despite King's production, only seven schools wanted him as a quarterback. Dozens more wanted him to play wide receiver or cornerback—positions he had never tried.

"The whole country wanted him as an athlete," Eric King says on his son's recruitment. "But many of them didn't see him as a QB because of his size. I had one defensive coordinator call me and tell me they wanted him on defense. I told that coach that he wasn't a f--king cornerback. He's a quarterback."

King initially committed to TCU but then flipped to Houston after Ed Oliver, the former 5-star recruit from the area, pledged his commitment to the Cougars.

He loved the idea of playing for his city. He also felt this was his best opportunity to stay at quarterback.

"Most coaches I talked to told me about my height," D'Eriq says. "Even coaches on my high school team were telling me I won't be able to do it because of my size. I'd kind of just brush it off, and it'd add fuel to the fire."

---

His dream of staying at quarterback lasted six months.

Injuries hit the receiving corps hard during his first fall camp, and senior Greg Ward Jr. was returning as the starter at quarterback after leading the team to a 13-1 record the previous year. So Tom Herman, Houston's former head coach and currently the coach at Texas, asked D'Eriq and his father if D'Eriq could switch to wide receiver. Although the move was billed as temporary, it forced Eric and his son to mull their options.

"I had a contact with Oregon at the time, and I told him we could go wherever he wanted to go," Eric King says. "He could redshirt or transfer. But he wanted to stay. He wanted to play for his city."

Having never played wide receiver, King practiced for less than a month before his debut. It came against Oklahoma in his first game as a true freshman. The advice he got from Herman when the coach, to his surprise, inserted him into the game was clear. Just don't fumble.

Houston beat the Sooners, and King played a role in the upset. He finished with three catches for 28 yards, assuming his new position with ease. Three weeks later, King caught a touchdown, threw a touchdown on a trick play and returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown against Texas State.

"I took it pretty serious," King says. "I just wanted to be good at it in case I had to switch positions."

He finished his freshman campaign with a respectable 29 catches for 228 yards. But after the season, he moved back to quarterback as promised. And then just as he was gaining momentum leading into the year, he tore his right meniscus for the first time. After he recovered following surgery, King moved back to wideout with the quarterback situation temporarily solved. He caught at least four balls in each of his five games there, reacclimating himself to the role once again.

Then the breakthrough came. Houston was off to a mediocre 4-3 start, and quarterbacks Kyle Allen and Kyle Postma had combined for nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The team that had averaged 40.4 points per game in 2015 and 35.8 in 2016 was down to 27.3. So King, who had taken no reps in the days and weeks leading up to Houston's game against 17th-ranked South Florida, was abruptly inserted as quarterback.

He didn't have a huge passing workload—completing 12 of 20 passes for 137 yards—but there were glimpses of what he could do, like the long, game-tying touchdown pass early in the third quarter. Then there was the final drive. Down three with a little over a minute remaining, King converted on a 4th-and-24—an unlikely throw through traffic that somehow found Courtney Lark—and then, with 11 seconds remaining, scored on a 20-yard scramble. Houston came from behind to win 28-24, giving South Florida its first loss of the year.

"Every position he's ever played he earned," Eric King says. "Nobody has given him anything. He's had to go take it. I'm not surprised by any of it. But I'm proud at how he's gone out there and earned it."

---

Braylon Jones can vividly recall the greatest football play he's ever seen, largely because his mistake allowed it to transpire.

Facing South Florida again, a year after seizing the starting quarterback job, King found himself once again creating in the backfield last fall. After Jones missed a block on a defensive end charging up the field, King took off.

He slipped through the defender's arm, pushing forward. He broke a tackle. Then another. Then, as the secondary seemed to close in, he weaved into open space. With one man left to beat, he uncorked a violent spin move into the open field. He then galloped the remaining 20 yards into the end zone.

"It felt like I was watching it in slow motion," Jones says. "It was unbelievable. You only see stuff like that in video games."

No one was stopping Houston's QB from getting to the endzone 😮 pic.twitter.com/dwzTvwUfKA

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 27, 2018

King finished the game with 419 passing yards, 132 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, and Houston upset No. 21 USF 57-36.

While his performance surprised many, it didn't shock Houston safety Deontay Anderson.

"I've seen that kind of play he made against South Florida so many times," says Anderson, who played with King in high school and transferred from Ole Miss to Houston at least in part to reunite with him. "I mean, that's nothing. I've seen him do some incredible things over the years."

For the season, King ended up accounting for 2,982 passing yards and 674 rushing yards, along with the 50 touchdowns. He eclipsed 100 rushing yards and 400 passing yards three times apiece. He scored at least five touchdowns in five of the 10 full games he started. And all that came with only six interceptions on 345 passing attempts, which again doesn't surprise Anderson. For years, he's tried to lure King into throwing interceptions. And for years, he's mostly failed. "It can be frustrating playing safety against this guy," Anderson says. "He doesn't throw any picks."

"If he stays healthy," Anderson adds, "I think he could win the Heisman."

King might have been on his way to consideration for the award last season if it hadn't been for the torn meniscus, which he suffered on a non-contact injury against Tulane. It was an unassuming play, during which his foot seemed to latch onto the turf and turn his knee.

He recognized the pain immediately, and having torn the same meniscus the season prior, he knew what it meant. There would be no awards or records. His year was over.

---

Even before he took the job of head coach at Houston in January, Dana Holgorsen couldn't help but notice what the school's undersized quarterback was up to. The staggering numbers and highlights were too much to ignore for a coach who had spent much of his professional life in Texas.

"He's got the abilities," Holgorsen says. "He's incredibly electric. He's done it all, and he can do it all."

After spending eight years at West Virginia, Holgorsen returned to the state of Texas in search of a professional reset. Knowing how important King would be to that and aware they'd only have one year together—"I really wish I had two," Holgorsen says—he met him before anyone else, providing King with a flurry of highlights of Murray's last season at Oklahoma.

The two have comparable body types. And Holgorsen hopes King can emulate the way Murray was able to be active and still avoid contact.

"One of the first things he said to me was that sometimes he feels like he's got to run somebody over to get his teammates fired up," Holgorsen says. "I told him he needs to get rid of that right now. I don't want to take that part of his game away from him. I just want to limit the amount of hits that he takes." 

Playing for then-offensive coordinator Kendal Briles last season, King was taught to move fast and allowed the opportunity to create on the fly. This year's offense will be different. The tempo will be slower. The play-calling will be tweaked.

The Cougars will still need King to be himself, but the hope is it will look slightly different and provide him with the best opportunity to showcase his talent for a full season.

"I've tried to get him to understand that I don't want him to have 50 touchdowns this year," Holgorsen says. "We need him to score and do what he has to do to win the game. But if we've already won, then I'm not interested in him getting a couple of rushing touchdowns."

---

His knee his healthy now, and it has been for some time.

For the first time since he arrived at Houston, King has been allowed to prepare and focus on only one position without distraction.

His senior season will begin in Norman against Oklahoma on Sunday. Given how his college career began, it seems like a fitting place for the beginning of the end. Only this time, he won't be playing wide receiver and just trying not to fumble. He will be asked to engineer what would be a sizable upset against a team planning to vie for the College Football Playoff.

He will go head-to-head with Jalen Hurts, a fellow Texas high school QB trying to redefine himself as a senior. In 2015, King led Manvel to a 71-21 victory over Hurts and Channelview High School, ending Hurts' high school career. The two have stayed in contact ever since.

The idea of eclipsing his 50-touchdown season has yet to cross his mind. "I had a pretty good year last year," he says. "But if I could replace all those touchdowns with wins, I would."

Houston was 8-3 in games King started last season. It finished with two straight losses without him and comes into the 2019 season unranked.

If he can pull off that upset over Oklahoma and keep the Cougars rolling from there, he could be on his way to more Heisman buzz, whether he's setting touchdown records or not.

Along the way, he will watch and root for Murray as he attempts his own conquest of the NFL. B/R draft expert Matt Miller has reservations about King's potential at the next level because of his size but adds, "Kyler taught us to never say never." If Murray has a strong rookie season for the Arizona Cardinals, it could help pave the way for a quarterback of a similar size.

But King doesn't expect Murray's performance to sway his future one way or another as he looks to play quarterback this year and beyond.

That part will have to be earned, which is exactly how he wants it.

          

Adam Kramer covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @KegsnEggs.