Top 10 college football players of the week: The Shane Buechele redemption story

SMU’s high-scoring win lands the Mustangs a pair of players on our Top 10 players of the week in college football.

This week’s storyline surrounding the list: the SMU offense led by Shane Buechele. Buechele and the Mustangs have shocked the college football world and the American conference after the team avoided a potential upset on the road against the Temple Owls.

Future NFL draft picks Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow also find themselves upon this week’s list after two great performances is must-win games for their playoff chances.

College football players of the week

Honorable Mentions:

• Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State – 19 car, 183 yds, 2 TD
• Jacob Eason, QB, Washington – 23/30 att, 289 yds, 3 TD
• Jonathan Ward, RB, Central Michigan – 21 car, 130 yds, 3 TD
• Kyle Trask, QB, Florida – 21/33 att, 200 yds, 4 TD, Int

10. Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson

• 14 att, 192 yds, TD
• 4 rec, 35 yds

Travis Etienne had one of the best games of his Clemson career to help the Tigers in their blowout win vs. Louisville. Trevor Lawrence threw a pair of bad interceptions, which likely had Dabo Swinney leading on his electric back a little more than usual.

9. David Bell, WR, Purdue

• 13 rec, 197 yds, TD

With the injury to Rondale Moore, David Bell needed to step up with the increased number of targets for the Boilermakers. Against a desperate Iowa team, Bell broke a school record for most receiving yards by a true freshman in a single game.

8. Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State

• 32 car, 171 yds, 2 TD

In a potential upset for the Oklahoma State Cowboys against the Baylor Bears, Chuba Hubbard would need to be the key to victory. Responding to the challenge, Hubbard ran for his fifth-straight game of at least 121 yards this season, but it still wasn’t enough to knock off Baylor.

7. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon

• 24/38 att, 280 yds, 4 TD

In an absolute gutsy performance from Justin Herbert, Oregon’s title hopes remain alive. Herbert took the perfect amount of risks as well as checkdowns against a rival in the Washington Huskies. Through five games, Herbert has only one lone interception.

6. Reggie Roberson Jr., WR, SMU

• 8 rec, 250 yds, 3 TD

Heading into SMU’s game against Temple, Roberson Jr. eclipsed 100 yards only one time this season. Against Temple, Roberson Jr. erupted compiling 250 yards and three touchdowns. Vital to the team’s win, the junior will surely be more involved moving forward for the No. 19 Mustangs.

5. Joe Burrow, QB, LSU

• 25/32 att, 327 yds, 4 TD

College football fans’ favorite quarterback Joe Burrow continues to turn in phenomenal performances for the LSU Tigers. Emerging as a top quarterback in the league, Burrow gives Ed Orgeron and the rest of the team a chance at their first title since 2007.

4. AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College

• 34 car, 223 yds, 3 TD

Junior running back AJ Dillon has had a monster year for the Golden Eagles. Every single game this year Dillon has passed at least 118 yards rushing while passing 800 total yards rushing this season.

3. Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

• 26/49 att, 348 yds, 5 TD

Sam Howell has been a pleasant surprise for Mack Brown and the rest of the Tar Heels coaching staff. The true freshman quarterback has now thrown 16 touchdowns and three interceptions for a young team that should be back to contending in the ACC in just one year.

2. Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma

• 16/17 att, 316 yds, 3 TD
• 10 car, 75 yds, 2 TD

Jalen Hurts is like Michael Vick in a Madden video game this season. Hurts has been absolutely unstoppable this season, both with his legs and his arm. It has been amazing how much Hurts has developed since his freshman year with Nick Saban.

1. Shane Buechele, QB, SMU

• 30/53 att, 457 yds, 6 TD, Int

Shane Buechele has had quite a redemption season at SMU while leading the team to a current Top 25 ranking. Buechele has been slinging the football all season, but in a breakout effort against a tough Temple defense, Buechele pulled out all the tricks tossing six touchdowns with only one mistake.

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