The calendar is nearing October, and with that, the college football landscape is beginning to come together. Talk of the “big four” dominates the headlines as the first ever college football playoff sits on the horizon, but more than that, we have programs already beginning to battle for their lives (especially for some high-profile coaches), and the players who occupy the “cream of the crop” usually begin to separate themselves at this point in the season.
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In this space, we will explore five players that should be closely monitored during what appears to be a highly entertaining schedule of games on Saturday, and while the slate is void of an uber-elite match-up on the surface, that is often the case on weekends where upsets seem to take shape.
Keep in mind, these aren’t necessarily the best five players in action on Saturday, but each individual carries significant weight, either for their team outcome or, potentially, the Heisman Trophy and National Title pursuit for someone like the defending winner, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston.
Let’s unveil this week’s five-member group, listed in alphabetical order.