Christian McCaffrey Is College Football’s Most Versatile Player, Even If He’s

AP photo Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey (5) stiff-arms Southern California linebacker Anthony Sarao (56) during a 10-yard touchdown run during the Pac-12 Conference championship Saturday in Santa Clara, Calif.

More to come as the day goes by, and we learn where the rest of the Pac-12 is headed in the bowl season, one that will send a record 10 members of the conference to the post-season, and without benefit of the 5-7 exception, which will qualify 3 teams with a sub-.500 record in order to fill all the now 80 slots in bowl games.

Helton served as his own offensive coordinator and still called the Trojans’ plays after his promotion this season, but he said that will change in 2016.

“His ability to break tackles is what stood out today”, USC coach Clay Helton said of McCaffrey.

“I do believe at some point it’s going to be an eight-team playoff”, Shaw said Sunday in a teleconference involving the two coaches.

After USC scored to make it a one-possession game, McCaffrey put the capper on another Stanford win with a 27-yard touchdown reception when he was left wide open in the middle of the field.

However, Hogan, who was 9-of-12 passing for 144 yards and was the starting quarterback for all three of Stanford’s victories in Pac-12 championship game, completed a 28-yard touchdown pass to McCaffrey to increase the lead to 34-22 with 6:33 left. McCaffrey escaped his coverage for a 67-yard catch, and Hogan scored on a 7-yard keeper on the next play to put the Cardinal back in front, 20-16.

In conclusion, Christian McCaffrey deserves to win the Heisman because not only has he been the best player in college football this year; he has been the most impactful player.

It might be tough for McCaffrey to overtake Derrick Henry of Alabama or Deshaun Watson of Clemson in the Heisman Trophy balloting, but it would seem he should be a finalist and get himself a trip to New York City for the presentation.

Then, Stanford’s Blake Martinez sacked Cody Kessler, causing Kessler to fumble the ball.

McCaffrey ran, passed and also threw for a touchdown.

The Trojans’ improbable run to their first Pac-12 title game appearance ended courtesy of a running back who rushed for 207 yards and a touchdown, caught four passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, passed for a touchdown and totaled 149 yards in kick-return yardage.

McCaffrey surpassed 3,250 all-purpose yards in his 13th game of the season, while Sanders’ Oklahoma State team played only 11 games in that 1988 campaign.

“I would love to go”, McCaffrey said. “Even to be mentioned in the same category is definitely an honor”. “We’re not in charge of that”.

“Stanford just beat us”, Cravens said.

In Pac-12 play this season, the Trojans ranked fourth in yards allowed per game (401.3), fourth in yards allowed per play (5.82), fourth in scoring defense (26.7 points per game) and sixth in points allowed per drive (2.2). USC’s offense showed a glimpse of hope with a 71-yard drive just before the half that resulted in a 40-yard field goal, and the Trojans scored touchdowns on their first two drives of the third quarter to take a 16-13 lead. “What I see in there is a bunch of sad kids that want this more than anything”.