By Luke Brumm
After reviewing the first five awards, it’s time to finish viewing the 2023 MFS Staff Awards. The majority of these are team awards, including the most surprising team, most disappointing team, and the best and worst game. Before that, we have to announce our most improved player from this past season.
Most Improved Player – Ollie Gordon II – Oklahoma State
Ollie Gordon II had a monster year for Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State this past season. After only having 308 yards and 2 touchdowns on 62 carries in 2022, Gordon erupted for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns on 285 carries in 2023.
With a slow start for the team and RB, Gordon’s surge helped push Oklahoma State to the Big 12 Championship Game. I don’t think this type of improvement was seen anywhere else in the country.
Most Surprising Team – Missouri Tigers
The Missouri Tigers barely beat out Northwestern for this award. Both had great seasons which were lightyears better than the previous seasons, but the extent of Mizzou’s success can’t be ignored. After going 6-7 in the past two campaigns, Eli Drinkwitz led the Tigers to an 11-2 record capped off with a win in the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State. The Tigers should look to build off this and have another great year in 2024.
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Most Disappointing Team – USC Trojans
This one was expected. A team with the returning Heisman winner and CFP hopes to end up 8-5 and 5-4 in conference play was a large fall off. The offense didn’t have the same pop as the season before and the defense never really got it together. With Caleb Williams now gone, USC will need to reload on both sides of the ball if they want to be competitive in the improved Big Ten.
Best Game – Oregon @ Washington (Regular Season)
Both of these games were great, but the regular season matchup takes the award. Oregon and Washington came into this game undefeated and ranked in the top ten. The offenses were on early with the score being 14-8 after the first and 22-18 at halftime, both scores favoring the Huskies.
This game went back and forth as the teams mirrored each other scoring wise. Oregon scored eight in the third and Washington scored seven. They both scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter with the game finishing 36-33 in favor of Washington. Oregon famously went 0-3 on fourth down and missed a kick at the end of regulation to force overtime.
Worst Game – Georgia vs Florida State
This Orange Bowl matchup was ruined before the game even kicked off. Over half of Florida State’s starters backed out due to either NFL aspirations, the Transfer Portal, or Injury. Either way, FSU was not ready for this game and it showed. Georgia dominated in every aspect, winning 63-3. The score was 7-0 after the first quarter, before the Bulldogs exploded for 35 points in the second quarter, bringing the score to 42-3 at the half.
The second half was more of the same before the game mercifully. Hopefully something can be done about opt-outs to prevent this, but I doubt that ever happens, unfortunately.
