10 Takeaways: Week Three

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1. LSU-South Carolina was a glorious disaster

South Carolina has to be kicking themselves after losing to LSU. Whatever you want to say about the officiating (and there's plenty Gamecocks fans have) this should've been a massive win for Shane Beamer that will now be remembered for what could've been. South Carolina had 13 total penalties, two of which negated defensive touchdowns, including one that probably would've sealed the game:

Despite the mistakes, they still had had a chance to either win or tie the game at the end. With 18 seconds to go, a timeout left, and on the edge of field goal range, they elected to run up the middle and settle for a field goal:

Kicker Alex Herrera barely missed, and LSU escaped with a hard-fought win. Kudos to the Tigers for finding a way, but that the kind of loss that could sting South Carolina for a while if they let it.

2. Player of the week: Travis Hunter does it again

I'm sure the Heisman will go to a quarterback on a playoff team, but we all know who the best player in the country is:

Hunter was everywhere in Colorado's 28-9 win at Colorado State. In 123 total snaps, he had 13 catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns on offense, with five tackles, one PBU, and a 38-yard interception return on defense. He's now second nationally in receptions (30), seventh in receiving yards (342), and second in receiving TD (5). All this while also playing every defensive snap and being one of the top corners in the nation. We've never seen anything like this. If he even remotely stays close to this pace, he should be a guarantee for New York in December, if not a lock to win college football's most prestigious award.

Bonus player of the week: Bethune-Cookman's Darnell Deas

Bethune-Cookman lost 59-31 to Western Michigan, but kick returner Darnell Deas had himself a night:

The first one might be responsible for the funniest attempted kicker tackle in recent memory:

3. The Backyard Brawl delivers (again)

College football is a sport built on rivalries, and the rivalry between Pitt and West Virginia is at the top when it comes to my favorites. The 107th edition of the Backyard Brawl had everything you could want in a football game.

• There was a fake punt:

• A blocked punt returned for a TD on the same drive

• An incredible one-hand touchdown catch by WVU receiver Justin Robinson that looked like a game-clincher:

• And finally: Pitt scoring 14 points in the final three minutes, led by the gutsy play of QB Eli Holstein:

The Backyard Brawl is everything great about the sport of college football. God bless this beautiful rivalry.