5:30 P.M. CT SEPT. 28, 2013 OLE MISS TV: ESPN LOOKING for ANSWERS The Crimson Tide secondary prepares to face the Rebels with the return of key injured players September 27, 2013 The Next Star Athlete EDITORIAL O.J. Howard, true freshman and editor-in-chief Mazie Bryant one of Alabama’s prized recuits, [email protected] 05 has changed the game for the magazine editor Matt Ford Crimson Tide offense magazine creative director David Walton managing editor Lauren Ferguson production editor Katherine Owen visuals editor Anna Waters online editor Mackenzie Brown assistant news editors Mark Hammontree Sarah Elizabeth Tooker [email protected] culture editor Abbey Crain Looking for Answers sports editor Marc Torrence opinion editor John Brinkerhoff The Crimson Tide secondary chief copy editor Larsen Lien prepares to face the Rebels with video editor Daniel Roth 06 the return of key injured players photo editor Austin Bigoney community managers Brielle Appelbaum Lauren Robertson ADVERTISING advertising manager Tori Hall 251.751.1781 [email protected] territory manager Chloe Ledet 205.886.3512 Back in Action [email protected] projects manager Sam Silverman 520.820.3084 As Ole Miss continues to [email protected] progress with its recruiting creative services manager Hillary McDaniel 09 classes, the future of its success 334.315.6068 remains clouded account executives Ali Lemmond William Whitlock Kathryn Tanner Camille Dishongh Kennan Madden Julia Kate Mace Katie Schlumper No. 14 Oklahoma No. 20 Florida vs. No. 22 Notre Dame vs. Kentucky Notre Dame Stadium - South Bend, Ind., Commonwealth Stadium – Lexington, Ky., 2:30 p.m. CT, NBC 6 p.m. CT, ESPNU Despite winning its fi rst three games to start the season, Oklahoma Florida will be without quarterback Jeff Driskel, after the veteran sig- has done it with question marks at a position that is usually never nal caller was lost for the season with a broken tibia in last week’s game an issue for them – quarterback. Week one starter and a redshirt against Tennessee. In place of Driskel will be redshirt junior Tyler freshman Trevor Knight, was benched in favor of junior Blake Bell, who Murphy, who performed well in relief of Driskel a week ago, throwing passed for 413 yards and four touchdowns in a 51-20 win against Tulsa a 52-yard touchdown pass, running for another and committing zero in the team’s last game two weeks ago. Meanwhile, Notre Dame senior turnovers in a 31-17 win. With the No. 2 defense in the country behind quarterback Tommy Rees has been hot and cold for the Fighting Irish him, Murphy shouldn’t be asked to do too much in his fi rst career start this season, playing in place of Everett Golson, who was suspended for against a rebuilding Kentucky team. the fall semester by the school. Rees showing up against Oklahoma’s underrated defense will decide this game. The Irish defeated the Soon- ers 30-13 in Norman, Okla., last season. No. 10 Texas A&M No. 6 LSU vs. Arkansas vs. No. 9 Georgia Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium – Fayetteville, Ark., Sanford Stadium – Athens, Ga., 6 p.m. CT, ESPNU 2:30 p.m. CT, CBS Love him or hate him, last season’s Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Both teams will be fi ghting to stay alive in the national title picture Manziel hasn’t missed a beat in 2013. The sophomore quarterback has in this high-profi le SEC showdown. LSU has exceeded many pundits’ improved as a pocket passer and again ranks near the top in several preseason expectations in its 4-0 start, while Georgia already has one major passing categories through four games this season. Though Ar- loss on the season. The Bulldogs will put up points with one of the best kansas is 3-1 this season under fi rst-year head coach Bret Bielema – a quarterback/running back duos in the country in Aaron Murray and drastic improvement from last season’s disastrous 4-8 fi nish – it has yet Todd Gurley, but the defense will have its work cut out for it against a to play an SEC opponent until now in 2013. The Razorbacks currently surprisingly balanced and effi cient LSU offense headlined by quarter- rank second in the SEC in total defense and 18th nationally, but few back Zach Mettenberger and running back Jeremy Hill. teams in the country, if any, have shown they can slow down the Aggie offense. Arizona No. 23 Wisconsin vs. No. 16 Washington vs. No. 4 Ohio State Husky Stadium – Seattle, Wash., Ohio Stadium – Columbus, Ohio, 6 p.m. CT, FOX 7 p.m. CT, ABC It’s still early in the season, but both Arizona and Washington are looking like potential sleepers in the Pac-12. Through three Ohio State is off to a 4-0 start in 2013, but only the fi rst of those wins can games, both teams match up evenly across the board, each rank- be credited to preseason Heisman Trophy candidate Braxton Miller, ing in the top 10 nationally in rushing yards per game and points- who has missed almost all of the past three games with an MCL sprain. allowed average, and top 20 in scoring offense. The Huskies hold a Senior Kenny Guiton has fi lled in admirably at quarterback, but Miller signifi cant advantage in the passing game, averaging 325 yards per is expected to make the start against Wisconsin. He and the rest of the game to Arizona’s 109. Wildcats quarterback B.J. Denker will need to Buckeyes will have their hands full – the Badgers are ranked sixth na- alleviate some pressure off running backs Ka’Deem Carey and Daniel tionally in total defense and 12th in total offense. Jenkins to prevent them from being one-dimensional against a tough Washington defense. 09/27/2013 GAMEDAY 03 1 Alabama 6 LSU 10 Texas A&M 20 Florida 23 Wisconsin 14 Oklahoma Arizona vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. 21 Ole Miss 9 Georgia Arkansas Kentucky 3 Ohio State 22 Notre Dame 16 Washington Marc Torrence sports editor 71.4% (10/14) Charlie Potter assistant sports editor 78.6% (11/14) Kevin Connell sports reporter 85.7% (12/14) Billy Whyte sports reporter 78.6% (11/14) Nick Sellers sports reporter 85.7% (12/14) Last week’s perfect picks: Pick against our sports experts at: cw.ua.edu/pickem None AP Poll Coaches Poll 1. Alabama (56) 1. Alabama (59) 2. Oregon (4) 2. Oregon (3) 3. Clemson 3. Ohio State 4. Ohio State 4. Clemson 5. Stanford 5. Stanford 6. LSU 6. LSU 7. Louisville 7. Louisville 8. Florida State 8. Florida State 9. Georgia 9. Texas A&M 10. Texas A&M 10. Georgia 11. Oklahoma State 11. Oklahoma State 12. South Carolina 12. Oklahoma 13. UCLA 13. South Carolina 14. Oklahoma 14. UCLA 15. Miami (FL) 15. Miami (FL) 16. Washington 16. Northwestern 17. Northwestern 17. Michigan 18. Michigan 18. Baylor 19. Baylor 19. Florida 20. Florida 20. Washington 21. Ole Miss 21. Ole Miss 22. Notre Dame 22. Notre Dame 23. Wisconsin 23. Fresno State 24. Texas Tech 24. Wisconsin REPRESENTATIVES ON SITE 25. Fresno State 25. Texas Tech 02 09/27/2013 GAMEDAY The Next Star Athlete By Charlie PotterPotter position,position, which gives us other optionsoptions AssistantAssistant Sports EEditorditor to do other things.things. He can block, and he cancan runrun andand catch.”catch.” FansFans began dreaming of fresh-fresh- HowardHoward mmadeade hihiss AlabamaAlabama dedebutbut manman tight end O.J. Howard on tthehe in the season opener aagainstgainst VirVirginiaginia fieldfield this fall as soon as he cocom-m- TechTech but failed to make an appearanceappearance mittedmitted to the Crimson Tide as ththee on the team’s stat sheet, despitedespite con-con- totop-ratedp-rated tight end prospect of ththee tributingtributing as a run blocker and beingbeing 20132013 class. Howard has not disappoint-disappoint- targetedtargeted byby McCarron once down field.field. ed in Alabama’s first three games of It was against Texas A&M wherewhere thethe seasonseason.. HowardHoward had the biggest impact and hihiss TheThe 6-foot-6-inch, 237-pound tigtightht bestbest performance of the young seasonseason.. endend has provided quarterback AJ Mc-Mc- He hauled in three catches againagainstst Carron with a big target in the passingpassing thethe Aggies for 68 yards, with a crucialcrucial game,game, and head coach Nick Saban saidsaid catchcatch on third down.down. hishis versatility has provided the offense “He“He grewgrew up a bunch in the TexTexasas withwith a wrinkle it has not had in recenrecentt A&MA&M game.game. He had to,” McCarron said.said. years.years. “[On]“[On] third down and we completed a “O.J.“O.J. Howard’s done a good job,” Sa-Sa- passpass to him late in the gamegame to kind ofof banban said. “He’s maturing now at thatthat sealseal the deal. He’s done an excellent jjobob CWC | AustinAustin BigoneyBigog ney Mr. Tee’s BBQ Covered Patio Beers and Minis To-Go! Frozen Drinks 509 Red Drew Avenue (Behind Egans) Follow us on Twitter: @TheRedShedBar 04 09/27/2013 GAMEDAY for us.” like New Orleans’ Jimmy Graham, New Howard with either a smaller corner Against Colorado State, Howard England’s Rob Gronkowski and Atlan- or a slower linebacker, and McCarron’s caught three passes for 38 yards. Mc- ta’s Tony Gonzalez are security blan- eyes light up when that happens. Carron looked to Howard early and of- kets for their quarterbacks and force “It creates mismatches, and that’s ten, with all of his catches coming in the defenses to change their schemes.