FWAA News from Ted Gangi News

Introduction to new Blaudschun Column.

In Deion Sanders' much-anticipated head coaching debut, the Colorado Buffaloes marched into Fort Worth and stunned last season's national runner-up and 17th-ranked TCU, 45-42, in a memorable opening week game. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the coach's son, connected with Dylan Edwards for a 46-yard catch and run touchdown on fourth down with 4:25 left to provide the margin of victory. For the remarkable effort coming off a 1-11 season, the Buffs are the season's first Cheez-It National Team of the Week, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.

The Cheez-It National Team of the Week will be presented each Monday during the college football regular season. Each week, the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association will honor one outstanding team performance.

The Michigan Wolverines beat arch-rival Ohio State on the road for the first time since 2000 with a 45-23 win in Columbus. In outscoring the Buckeyes 28-3 in the second half and take the Big Ten East Division title for a second consecutive season, Michigan (12-0) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Nov. 26, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The South Carolina Gamecocks stunned No. 5 Tennessee with touchdowns on all five of their first-half drives, winning the SEC East battle 63-38 and setting records in the process. For its school-record point total against a top-five opponent and its second-highest ever against an SEC foe, South Carolina (7-4) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Nov. 19, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Washington Huskies snapped No. 6 Oregon’s eight-game win steak as Peyton Henry kicked a 43-yard field goal with 51 seconds left, keeping the Huskies in Pac-12 title contention with a gritty 37-34 win in Eugene, Ore. For beating a ranked Oregon team for the first time in 13 games since 2002 in the divisional rivalry, Washington (8-2) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Nov. 12, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish had two 100-yard rushers, held Clemson scoreless in the first half for the first time in three seasons and scored on special teams in dominating the No. 5 Tigers, 35-14, in South Bend. For posting its third straight win this season and its 27th straight regular-season win against Atlantic Coast Conference foes, Notre Dame (6-3) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Nov. 5, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

DALLAS (FWAA) – The Louisville Cardinals won their third straight game behind a feisty defense that forced eight Wake Forest turnovers in a 48-21 win over the No. 10 Demon Deacons. For posting a 35-point third quarter and pinning down its first win over a top-10 team as an unranked team since 2002, Louisville (5-3) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 29, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Clemson Tigers rushed their way back from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to reward their sellout Homecoming crowd with a 27-21 win over No. 14 Syracuse, their 38th consecutive home win that set the Atlantic Coast Conference record. For also extending the FBS’ longest active win streak to 14 games and staying unbeaten, Clemson (8-0) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 22, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Tennessee Volunteers kicked a last-second field goal to dramatically end a too-long losing streak Saturday in a game-for-the-ages, a 52-49 win over Alabama. Chase McGrath’s 40-yarder that spun through the soon-to-be-torn-down uprights as time expired and ended a 15-game losing streak to the Crimson Tide. For the resilient effort in front of its capacity crowd, Tennessee (6-0) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 15, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Texas Longhorns wiped out rival Oklahoma by historic margins Saturday, rolling to their largest win in the Red River Rivalry’s 118-year history with a 49-0 domination at the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns’ first shutout against the Sooners since 1965 that also handed Oklahoma its first shutout since 1998 earned Texas (4-2) the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 8, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Throttled down with a 27-point first quarter and four touchdowns of at least 62 yards, the TCU Horned Frogs wiped out No. 18 Oklahoma early and continued the pressure for a 55-24 win. For its offensive explosion of 668 total yards that ended an eight-game losing streak to the Sooners before the second-largest crowd in Amon G. Carter Stadium history, TCU (4-0) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 1, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Kansas State Wildcats never trailed and scored their highest point total ever in Norman as they upended No. 6 Oklahoma, 41-34, on the road in both teams’ Big 12 opener. For rolling up 509 total yards and beating the Sooners for the third time in four seasons and second consecutive time in Norman, Kansas State (3-1) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Sept. 24, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Eastern Michigan Eagles jumped ahead with a fast start and ran past Arizona State, 30-21, in Tempe, Ariz., with running back Samson Evans gained 257 yards in a historic night. For handing Arizona State its first home non-conference loss since 2017 and becoming the first Mid-American Conference team to beat a Pac-12 Conference school in the regular season, the Eagles (2-1) earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Sept. 17, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

The App State Mountaineers and Marshall Thundering Herd set the table with historic afternoon upsets at Texas A&M and Notre Dame, then the Georgia Southern Eagles added another at Nebraska at the end a memorable Saturday for the Sun Belt Conference. After those three epic upsets and for the first time in 21 seasons the Football Writers Association of America has awarded all three schools the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Sept. 10.

The Florida Gators overcame four deficits and used an explosive night from quarterback Anthony Richardson to win their home opener 29-26 over No. 7 Utah, the defending Pac-12 champion, in front of a packed house at Florida Field. For giving new head coach Billy Napier a win in his debut in The Swamp, Florida earned the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Sept. 3, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

For advancing to the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time the Wolverines are the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 27, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.

Utes dominate Oregon to clinch Pac-12 South title

Jayhawks stun Texas in OT to end Big 12 road drought

Frogs stun rival Baylor with new coach, quarterback