The 2013 Heisman Race Already Underway

Some say the bowl season is over-saturated, that the non-championship BCS are snoozefests. But I thought the games were compelling every night this week.

The best unintended consequence was that one night after the next we saw next year's Heisman crop, and they all shined in big wins. Here are Backtime's favorites for next year:

1. Johnny Football

What a performance. If anyone thought Johnny Manziel would be off his game, basking in the glory of his well-earned Heisman and the banquet circuit that goes with it, we saw exactly what he brought us all year.

Johnny Football went video game all over Oklahoma for 287 passing and 229 rushing, a total of 4 TD as he led Texas A&M from a 14-13 halftime nail-biter to a 41-13 romp.

In fact, if the NFL video games are branded "Madden," the college ones should be labeled "Johnny Football." And instead of a turbo or beast mode, there should be a "run like hell" mode.

His chances to repeat are obviously excellent, except Texas A&M still plays in the SEC West. That's a recipe for the possibility of multiple losses which would dash his Heisman chances no matter how spectacular the numbers.

2. Teddy Bridgewater

Bridgewater had great moments all year, many of which were chronicled on this site. But his 2013 Heisman moment just happened on January 2nd, 2013, in the Sugar Bowl.

Bridgewater got off the mat (of course he did) and led Louisville to a stunner over #3 Florida. He is the ice to Johnny Manziel's fire, and just 26 days older. He will be back as will most everyone around him, and Louisville is certain to be ranked in the Top 10 preseason, a formula for an outsider's title run.

3. Tajh Boyd

This is the one uncertainty since Clemson's Boyd may declare for the NFL draft. If it was his final season in Orange and White, it was a keeper: 36 TD passes and 10 TD runs. And at a sturdy 225 he's as tough as they come.

In the Chick-fil-A Bowl he absorbed dozens of hits against a monster LSU defense, and made the big pass on 4th and 17 to set up the winning field goal. But he still had enough energy to lift the trophy after a classic finish.

4. Marcus Mariota

Mariota is the sleeper. Oregon QBs get about as much pub as a jockey on a champion racehorse. But it takes much more than skills. Mariota has to grasp the offense and execute it while on a treadmill.

And the freshman was the best quarterback on the field against senior Heisman finalist Collin Klein in the Fiesta Bowl.

If coach Chip Kelly goes to the NFL, as he's expected to, the system remains. Mariota will get a chance to be the posterboy when college football's most dominant offense returns to the field next year. And if his coach is gone, the spotlight on the QB gets bigger.

So, who emerges from Monday night's national championship game? Alabama QB AJ McCarron has a shot, but I expect the 2-headed tailback machine to dominate as they did in the SEC title game against a strong Georgia front seven. Notre Dame deserves to be in the game based on their body of work, but they don't belong on the same field. The Tide will roll.

Like A Bridgewater Over Trouble

Louisville's season didn't finish with they type of glory they were hoping for. They were blown out at Syracuse and had a disastrous home loss to UConn. The quest for an undefeated season went up in smoke, but the BCS Bowl bid was still alive, if they could take the season finale' at Rutgers.

Full disclosure: Syracuse is the alma mater and Rutgers is the home state team, but Backtime's been on the Louisville bandwagon for almost all of 2012. Mostly because of sophomore QB Teddy Bridgewater.

Bridgewater is the counterpart to Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel. While Manziel is a slasher, Bridgewater is a surgeon. And both are tougher and bolder than any 19 year-old could realistically expect to be.

Last night, Bridgewater came out in the cold New Jersey night with a cast on his non-throwing wrist, which made it impossible to take snaps from center or play-action. He had a sprained ankle that made planting and throwing just as hard.

So what remained was Bridgewater's guts and guile (and some needed subbing from backup QB Will Stein), as Louisville erased a 14-3 halftime deficit. They climbed on his back in the 2nd half and delivered with a game-winning drive and a 20-17 win.

If you saw Bridgewater's line, you never would've known anything was amiss: 20-28, 263 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. After the game, Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson descended from the coaches' booth to emotionally show his appreciation.

And with all the talk this week of Head Coach Charlie Strong leaving for richer pastures, the team wasn't distracted. They were focused on The Orange Bowl, which just happens to be played in Teddy Bridgewater's hometown.

The opportunities for Charlie Strong will continue to be there. But you'd have to think he's not going anywhere (yet). Not when he can coach Bridgewater for one more year.

The Backtime Bandwagon: November 2012 Edition

After a great college football Saturday, the Backtime Editorial Department is on the bandwagon - but not with Kansas State, Notre Dame, Oregon, or even the indomitable Crimson Tide. Climb aboard with Louisville's Angry Birds: 9-0, with three to go.

No I'm not trumpeting Louisville for a shot at the title. But an unbeaten season, capped by a BCS Bowl win over a formidable opponent would set the 2013 season up. Teddy Bridgewater is a true sophomore and will definitely be back (though questions linger about his coach), and the Cards can carry the torch for the reincarnated Big East Conference going forward.

And again, I marvel at whomever takes these pictures. Bridgewater's throwing motion is flawless. He steps up in measured stride against the rush. His hand warmer and hand towel are perfectly dead center. His non-throwing hand says "stop" in diagonal symmetry like the cover of Van Halen's Diver Down.

And the results are undeniable. Bridgewater threw for 324 yards and 5 TD versus Temple yesterday, sharpening his already surgical season numbers: 70% completions, 9.5 yards/attempt, 18 TD and 4 INT.

And he's not just a finesse passer. Bridgewater takes what he has to on the ground. And while he won't run many defenders over, he'll still deliver some punch.

These are not just photo opportunities that this still-19-year old QB presents and very little has to do with luck. Unless we're talking about Andrew Luck.

Just Another Day At The Office

It doesn't suck when your office is in a mobile unit outside a sold-out college football stadium. And only adding to that satisfaction is run of great finishes I've witnessed and documented in the last several weeks.

Last night it was Louisville coming back from 10 points down in the second half, Teddy Bridgewater throwing for 400+, a late Cincinnati rally led by Munchie Legaux, and the Keg Of Nails changing hands on a game-winning FG in OT.

Here are my last 5 college football assignments:

September 15 - Utah 24, BYU 21

Utah thought they had won on two separate occasions. The sidelines emptied and the fans rushed the field, twice. After a clock adjustment and an illegal participation penalty on a Stanford Band-type play, BYU's tying FG attempt doinked off the upright. Then the Utes got to celebrate for real.

October 5 - Syracuse 14, Pitt 13

It wasn't a barn-burner by any stretch, but one-point games don't suck. It helps that the alma mater actually captured a conference game at home.

October 13 - Texas A&M 59, Louisiana Tech 57

Another one for the history books. Freshman legend Johnny "Football" Manziel set the SEC Total Offense mark (for the second time this season) with 576 yards of total offense, accounting for 6 TDs. The Aggies led 27-0, by 23 at halftime, and by 16 going into the 4th quarter. Still, gutty La Tech had two chances to tie on failed 2-point conversions. Texas A&M hung on in Shreveport.

October 20 - Louisville 27, South Florida 25

It wasn't a classic, but just a run-of-the-mill game-winning TD drive with under 2:00 left. And it was led by Louisville's super soph to preserve a still-unbeaten season.

October 26 - Louisville 34, Cincinnati 31 (OT)

Louisville's late magic continues. Eight down, four to go.

Next up: Bowling Green at Ohio U - Wednesday, November 7. The day after election day in Ohio will be interesting whether the game is or not.

Deja Lou

Haven't I been here before? Yes, just a few days ago. And ten times in the last three years. Not quite the time entrenched as I was in 2008-2009, when I spent 30 days in a 7-month period in Oklahoma.

Louisville is a great city but we're stuck at an airport hotel, which is convenient to the football stadium but not to downtown and 4th Street Live.

Thursday night's dinner was at the Cardinal Hall of Fame Cafe' which is a solid sports bar, and serves Bourbon Barrel Ale in frosty 22-ounce glasses.

As noted in the past, this is a great sports town, home to Churchill Downs, Louisville Slugger, and the Muhammad Ali museum.

It is also the home of some great college sports, headlined by the Preseason #2 Louisville Cardinals hoop team, who plays in the downtown Yum! Center, which is already a Top 5 NBA arena.

And the #16 football squad will be playing rival Cincinnati in a packed stadium tonight for the Keg Of Nails. And each team looks to get one step closer to the Big East's automatic BCS bid.

The weather may be a factor with persistent rain, which may douse some of the fire that's been building over the outstanding quarterback matchup: Munchie Legaux vs Teddy Bridgewater.

The Keg's been in Bearcat hands for four straight years, and tonight the Cardinals look to reclaim it.

Teddy Is Ready

I just picked this photo off the internet, I didn't take it. But it embodies Teddy Bridgewater, the 19-year old true sophomore Louisville QB perfectly. Note the steely eyes, the textbook grip, the perfectly centered hand warmer and towel.

It's not surprising at all, when he takes everything about the quarterback position so seriously. His coaches praise his "next level" grasp of the position, mastering the art of play-faking and dummy signaling. He changes the offensive tempo, makes his own checks at the line, and makes his own calls in the no-huddle.

Bridgewater has even programmed the team's offense into his X-Box, so he has thousands of simulated reps under his belt to go with the thousands of actual ones.

On Saturday, Louisville needed all of Bridgewater's poise and efficiency to edge the resilient South Florida Bulls 27-25, including leading the game-winning TD drive with 1:35 remaining.

Bridgewater's statline was just as splendid as his attention to detail: 21-25, 256 yards, 2 TD and 0 INT. And add in 10 runs for 74 yards for good measure.

The only thing more sublime than Teddy Bridgewater's performance was the postgame team dinner in Louisville. Jack Fry's was a Top 10 all-time meal.

Louisville (7-0) is back on the menu next week, when Cincinnati rides south with the Keg Of Nails. Stay tuned.