Reggie Bush’s USC homecoming, Chuck Martin has quote of the year, Week 4 watchability rankings

It’s homecoming week for Reggie Bush at USC and he’s bringing some friends.

Homecoming for Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush is one of the greatest football players in USC history and he’ll be making his return to the Coliseum on Friday with his FOX broadcasters for the Trojans showdown with Utah. This marks the first time in nine years the former Heisman winner and national champion will be back in the stadium he once used as his playground. USC had to disassociate themselves permanently from Bush and his family after a June 2010 ruling by the NCAA in the wake of violations stemming from cash and improper benefits received during his career from 2003-2005.

Things are so weird that USC honors and recognizes O.J. Simpson but have had to act like Bush didn’t exist. That’ll all change on Friday with Bush returning alongside his former teammate and fellow Heisman winner, Matt Leinart with the FOX crew that also includes Urban Meyer who is definitely going to be the next USC head coach even if he wants to dodge the question.

Bush and Leinart have already publicly said they’ll be recruiting Meyer to USC and this trip can basically amount to an unofficial visit like a recruit would take for the three-time national champion head coach.

Quote of the year (non-Mike Leach division)

Miami (OH) head coach Chuck Martin isn’t feeling too optimistic ahead of the RedHawks game with Ohio State in Columbus on Saturday afternoon. When asked about his team’s chances, Martin did the opposite of a “Win one for the Gipper” speeches.

Can’t fault him though. Miami are 39.5-point underdogs and ESPN’s FBI gives them a 1.1 percent chance of leaving the Horseshoe with a win. By comparison, the Miami Dolphins at 1000-1 odds the Miami Dolphins are five times more likely to win the Super Bowl than Miami (OH) is to beat Ohio State.

This is a David vs. Goliath battle. The NCAA won’t let Miami play with a slingshot though.

Week 4 watchability rankings

College football basically punted on the schedule last week when there were zero ranked matchups. The most glamorous game was Iowa-Iowa State, which is anything but glamorous. Nevertheless, it was a good weekend for fans to go out and see their family and friends they’ll otherwise shun for the rest of the year.

Week 4 will be a stark contrast because the slate is loaded with marquee matchups and none are larger than Notre Dame traveling to Athens to take on Georgia. If you can only watch one game, that’s the game. If you can spend your whole day on the couch watching college football, let me help you with a six-pack of watchability rankings.

1. Notre Dame vs. Georgia – 8 p.m. – CBS
2. Michigan at Wisconsin – Noon – FOX
3. Auburn at Texas A&M – 3:30 – CBS
4. Utah at USC – (FRI) 9 p.m. – FSI
5. Washington at BYU – 3:30 – ABC
6. Oklahoma State at Texas – 7:30 – ABC

Tony Bennett turns down raise from Virginia

Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett received a contract extension after leading the Cavaliers to the national title last season. But he turned down a raise in his new deal. Bennett said he’d prefer the raise he was offered be redirected to his staff and for improvements for other Virginia teams.

“I have more than enough, and if there are ways that this can help out the athletic department, the other programs and coaches, by not tying up so much [in men’s basketball], that’s my desire, Bennett said in a release.”

“Tony’s decision — to turn down a well-deserved raise and instead invest in his players and UVA athletics more broadly — tells you everything you need to know about him as a leader and as a human being,” university president Jim Ryan said. “Tony is one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met, and this is just the latest example.”

In a day when bloated contracts and massive blowouts are the norm in college football and basketball, Bennett turning down money is one of the biggest upsets since No. 1 Virginia lost to No. 16 UMBC in the NCAA Tournament two years ago.

All the power to him though and this selfless act should be commended and not mocked like I just did. I wish I was in a position to turn down a raise and redirect that to other areas where it would be needed more and appreciated more. But I’m a money-hungry millennial who needs to fund his avocado toast habit.