McCaffrey the man, Stanford to Rose Bowl

“Without a doubt [should he win the Heisman]”, Martinez said. McCaffery is the best college football player in the country, period, and Saturday proved it.

“It’s not even close”, Shaw said.

Stanford (11-2) isn’t expected to overtake any of the conference champions with one or zero losses: No. 1 Clemson (ACC), No. 2 Alabama (SEC), No. 3 Oklahoma (Big 12) or No. 5 Michigan State (Big Ten). They certainly have plenty of momentum after upsetting Notre Dame last week win a winning field goal and they will need that to be the Trojans.

McCaffrey had 461 all-purpose yards en route to beating the single season NCAA record previously held by Barry Sanders, while the Stanford defense was just as stout through most of the night. But there’s no question that eclipsing Sanders, perhaps the best running back in college football history, pushes McCaffrey into truly rare territory.

“I can’t talk enough about the offensive line and the holes [they created]”, McCaffrey said.

By the end of the third quarter, McCaffery was a full out savage.

Stanford controlled the game early but had only a 13-3 halftime lead to show for it because of misfires in the red zone – it scored one touchdown in four opportunities.

Second play: Final ticks of the third quarter, Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler is hammered while his arm is cocked to pass, Solomon Thomas picks up the fumble and rumbles 34 yards for a touchdown. When Southern California met Stanford back in September, the Trojans’ freshman cornerback was perfectly positioned to contest a jump ball intended for Stanford tight end Austin Hooper. “His ability to break tackles is what stood out today”.

With a national TV audience watching, McCaffrey provided plenty of “Heisman moments” against USC.

McCaffrey was named the game’s most valuable player after he rushed for 208 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries, threw a score to quarterback Kevin Hogan and returned the favor by connecting with the fifth-year senior for one in the air.

W. KENTUCKY 45, SOUTHERN MISS 28: In Bowling Green, Kentucky, Brandon Doughty threw for 410 yards with three touchdown passes and Western Kentucky came from behind in the Conference USA Championship Game.

Florida ended the game with 180 yards, on 3.27 yards per snap, seven first downs and zero third-down conversions in 11 tries. Hogan then found McCaffrey open in the middle of the field and he ran with for a 67-yard reception down to the USC 7. The Trojans made a second-half comeback only to wilt again under Stanford’s muscular attack.

But, as good as USC’s defense looked, the offense looked equally as bad.

“It was an extremely fun game to play in”, McCaffrey said. He rushes the ball inside and on the edge, and he can score on any play they draw for him. A short run, an incomplete pass, and a false start set USC up with third-and-twelve from their own 22.

You have to tip your cap if you are a USC fan. Clay Helton took over on an interim basis and received the permanent title after USC won five of its last six games, including last Saturday’s 40-21 victory over rival UCLA.

The remaining Stanford players were left with little to do on McCaffrey’s big night, but still managed a number of solid individual performances.