Saturday Open Thread: Army-Navy and Heisman ceremony

Here is your Saturday open thread. After 14 weeks of action, to be suddenly deprived of football is just the worst.

Fortunately, we have Army-Navy to ease us through until the bowls begin next week. This game is almost always close, even when the teams’ record is wildly disparate, as it is this year. The No. 23 Army Black Nights (10-2) are the host team today in Philadelphia vs. the Navy Midshipmen. The Middies have had a really rough year; some teams adjusted to changes in blocking rules relatively quickly, but Navy has not done so. Still, don’t let the 2-9 record fool you: this game will be competitive. Both teams play close to the vest and run almost-identical offenses. The Knights do have a decided passing advantage however. likely enough to justify the -6.5 spread as a favorite.

CBS: 2:00 P.M. Central

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Then, grab some dinner, and get settled back in. Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa vies for another Tide Heisman Trophy this evening in New York. He and OU’s Kyler Murray are prohibitive favorites, with the Buckeyes’ Dwayne Haskins being the other finalist and likely distant third.

There were a few snubs, Quinnen Williams did not make the Top 3, nor did Memphis’ Darrell Henderson - who rang up almost 2000 yards from scrimmage and had 25 touchdowns (he was really screwed for the Doak Walker; as much as Q was shafted for the Nagurski.)

But, by now, the formula is well-established: Offensive MVP on a team contending for a national title, with gaudy statistics, and preferably having a “Heisman moment.”

You can point to Tua’s third quarter in the Iron Bowl for his moment. But, honestly, a greater testament is all the time he spent on the bench late in games. He played 240 fewer snaps than Murray, played in just three fourth quarters, and yet his 37 touchdowns are still almost on pace with Murray. Better still is his indecent touchdown-per snaps — one score per 8.8 throws. That’s...well, indecent.

Still, ESPN wanted a horse race, so they manufactured one. So, let’s see how much of an impact that had.

Best of luck Tua, and Roll Tide.

7:00 Central ESPN / WatchESPN