Sportsman of the Week Ending 9/28/2025

The first major conference matchup week in college football unfolded in the last weekend in September and it did not disappoint.  In the New Conference Order, suddenly a matchup between Illinois and Southern California is (1) a conference matchup and (2) one between ranked teams.  And on national TV, the Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer took over.  Altmyer struck early, was efficient, and finished the game.  He ended 20-26 with 328 yards on such limited attempts.  And two TDs in a thrilling 34-32 victory.  And no interceptions.  And he was efficient with his legs on five carries and tack on another touchdown.  Oh and, he caught a TD pass.  Talk about doing it all.  Altmyer answered the critics after a tough loss and has positioned Illinois with their conference title fate in front of them.  Luke Altmyer is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 10/13/2024

Another huge weekend for college football including big conference matchups and one of the more intriguing games was Penn State travelling out west to Southern California for a new world Big 10 matchup.  The game did not disappoint.  USC took a 20-6 lead at halftime but the Nittany Lions came out of the locker room in the second half on fire.  Overall, while Drew Allar stepped up with the biggest game of his QB career, it was Tight End Tyler Warren who put up the biggest individual numbers.  Allar to Warren was good for 17 catches and 224 yards and a touchdown.  The senior Warren had eclipsed 100 yards only twice in his career and never more than 8 catches.  The Lions won in overtime to preserve their Top 4 ranking and Warren is an unlikely hero.  And the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 9/1/2024

A second thrilling weekend of college football commenced with a handful of big national matchups between big conferences.  The weekend spanned five full days (Thursday through Monday) giving fans a holiday weekend buffet of action.  Sunday night may have been the peak game with a huge SEC and Big 10 matchup at a neutral site and it didn't disappoint.  Teams that have each won National Championships in the last 20 years squared off in Las Vegas as the 13th ranked Louisiana State Tigers and 23rd ranked Southern California Trojans went toe to toe for 60 minutes.  In what many expected to be a high scoring game (having seen USC defense the prior year) was a slugfest with body blows thrown throughout but coming down to the fourth quarter.  With the game 17-13 entering the fourth quarter, USC excelled with two huge scoring drives to win it led by heir apparent to the USC QBU franchise Miller Moss.  Moss ended the day 27-36 with a TD, but had two go ahead drives in the fourth quarter with a TD throw, and a two-minute drill drive in which he was 5-6 and led a 1m 39s drive with ease.  They could have gotten a FG but got the TD on a run.  Moss was patient behind Heisman Trophy winner and eventual top NFL draft pick Caleb Williams and the reigns are now his, and he is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 12/4/2022

It was a veritable buffet of college football in the first weekend of December and the games delivered surprising results.  No result shook the college football landscape more than the Utah Utes upsetting number four and presumable playoff bound Southern California Trojans.  While oddsmakers had this as a close one, most experts were already penciling in the Trojans to a playoff spot.  Not so fast.  Utah quarterback Cam Rising put together a flawless effort in answering a huge deficit to win the Pac 12 Championship Game going away.  Trailing 17-3 and within 4 minutes of halftime, Rising brought the Utes offense alive.  Two gut punch drives in the second quarter, Rising led Utah down the field for 144 yards and two TDs to tie the game up just before halftime.  He then led Utah to 10 more unanswered points to take a 27-17 lead they would not relinquish.  Overall Rising through for 310 yards and 3 TDs.  No fumbles just one sack in a masterful control of the game.  His effort earned the Utes a trip to the Rose Bowl.  Cam Rising is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 12/6/2015

The college football season wrapped up in spectacular fashion with a main course of several conference championship games with playoff spots on the line.  Our Sportsman of the Week had a historic game in the one championship that didn't produce a playoff contender.  Stanford's Christian McCaffrey has quietly had the best all-purpose yards season of all time, passing the legendary Barry Sanders. He topped off his season with 472 all-purpose yards, including exceeding 100 yards each in rushing, receiving, and kick returns as the Cardinal smoked the Trojans of Southern California.  He also threw for a touchdown, you certainly can't blame the defense for coming up on him after a handoff.  Sometimes toiling out of the prime time window for many voters on the East Coast, McCaffrey has earned himself a trip to New York City for the Heisman Trophy presentation, and is a worthy Sportsman of the Week!