For one afternoon, objectivity in the CBS Sports studio in New York City was thrown out the window.

As former Colorado coach Rick Neuheisel watched his son, Jerry, get carried off the field following UCLA’s improbable upset win over then-No. 7 Penn State, he cheered — and then had to fight back tears.

“Don’t make me cry, man,” Neuheisel said on CBS ‘College Football Today.’ “To Penn State fans, my dad goggles were on big time today, but all of us as parents understand. It doesn’t matter if it’s football, if they’re singing in the choir, what have you, we’re so proud of our kids. 

“When they get a chance to do what they want to do and they get a stage and you get to watch them have that kind of success, it makes it all worth it.”

What Jerry got to do was lead he and his dad’s alma mater to a monumental win — the biggest in years. In the midst of a 0-4 start that featured a head coach and offensive coordinator firing, the younger Neuheisel found out mid-week that he was adding offensive play caller to his usual duties coaching the UCLA tight ends.

He slept about three hours the rest of the week.

“Just trying to put something they could operate on, that they could execute, and something they could be confident with,” Jerry said after Saturday’s game.

It was a typical ‘David vs. Goliath’ story. The Bruins had yet to lead in a single game all season. Penn State was coming off an overtime loss at home against Oregon and was desperate for a rebound performance. UCLA went into the game as 24.5-point underdogs. 

But something happened the night before, and Neuheisel sensed the possibility for something remarkable.

“I knew we had a chance,” Jerry said. “The way they were in our meetings, the way we had our offensive meeting, the way they took to our team meeting. It was the most enthusiastic 0-4 team you’ve ever seen in your life. And all of a sudden, you just get this delusional optimism where you think we might have a chance at this thing, and there’s this belief. 

“I know it’s really hard, because if you’re not in that environment, you feel like it’s doom and gloom. But in that building, everyone believed, and that’s all it really takes.”

As his dad watched from 3,000 miles away, Neuheisel called plays like a 10-year pro. He orchestrated a UCLA offense that racked up nearly 450 yards. The Bruins never punted. Just like he was after leading UCLA to a comeback win over Texas as the backup quarterback in 2024, the team carried Neuheisel off the field.

“I love UCLA more than anything, and the kind of kids you see that played on that field today is exactly why you love a place like this,” Neuheisel said. “We had two days to practice a new game plan, and all they did was believe, and we came out and played as hard as we could for 60 full minutes. Had to take a safety at the end because we messed it up at the end. How can you not love college football when you have days like this? It’s special.”

Who knows? That might be the only game UCLA wins this season, and the program might clean house in hopes of a reset this summer. Regardless, it seems like the little kid who used to run around the practice fields in Boulder in the mid-1990s might have a future in the coaching business. Just like dad. 

“He’s a coach’s kid,” UCLA interim coach Tim Skipper said. “You move around the country when you are young, you’re trying to figure out all your new friends and things like that. Before he even became a coach, he has dealt with having to be ready to go at any time. It was a short week for him to get ready. The plan worked to a T. We just kept the guys calm, and took it one play at a time – Jerry did a great job of that.”

King’s 5 Games to Watch

No. 17 Illinois vs. No. 1 Ohio State (10 a.m. FOX)

It’s just hard to ignore the 53-point loss the Illini suffered at the hands of Indiana just a few weeks ago. Yes, that remains Illinois’ only loss this season, and Bret Bielema’s team may believe that was just a blip, but the defending national champions are coming to town this weekend. After hanging on to beat then-No.1 Texas in Week 1, the Buckeyes have held the top spot in the rankings and have won their last four games by an average of nearly 40 points.

King’s pick: Ohio State -14.5

No. 14 Missouri vs. No. 8 Alabama (10 a.m. ABC)

The last time Missouri beat Alabama on the football field? That would be 50 years ago. But the Tigers might have their best shot in decades as the top offense in the SEC hopes to continue its roll against a Crimson Tide defense that has been dominant since a Week 1 loss at Florida State. After back-to-back impressive wins over Georgia and Vanderbilt, ‘Bama looks like the top team in the SEC, but that can all change Saturday at Faurot Field.

King’s pick: Alabama -2.5

No. 3 Oregon vs. No. 7 Indiana (1:30 p.m. CBS)

Oh, you thought last season was just a fluke? Nope, these Hoosiers are for real, again. The Indiana offense is once again elite thanks to QB Fernando Mendoza, but that unit will face its toughest test of the season against a Ducks team that has had a week off following an impressive road win at Penn State. 

King’s pick: Oregon -7.5

Texas vs. No. 6 Oklahoma (1:30 p.m. ABC)

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. A year ago, the Longhorns were the No. 1 team in the land as they ran past the Sooners for a 34-3 win. This time, though, it’s Oklahoma that is viewed as a national championship contender while Texas is unranked following a disappointing loss at Florida last week. The status of Sooners QB John Mateer will likely be unknown until kickoff and that could make for the wildest Red River Rivalry game in years.

King’s pick: Oklahoma +1.5

Utah vs. No. 21 Arizona State (8:15 p.m. ESPN)

There is no shortage of important games on the Big 12 schedule this week, but let’s talk about the nightcap in Salt Lake City. The Utes are desperate for a statement win after losing at home to Texas Tech a few weeks back and they’re in position to get it this week with Sun Devils QB Sam Leavitt doubtful to play. It’s a game both Utah and Arizona State need to win and one that could dramatically change the conference title race.

King’s pick: Utah -8.5

King’s YTD record ATS: 14-16 (2-3 last week)

King’s Top 5 Heisman Candidates

1. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon

We’re over a month into a season. It’s time to start narrowing down the true Heisman contenders. Moore keeps his spot at the top after a bye week as his performance at Penn State two weeks ago remains one of the most impressive all season. The sophomore QB has Oregon back in national title contention once again, and he’ll have a chance to prove himself again this week vs. Indiana.

2. Carson Beck, QB, Miami

Is Miami the best team in the country? The Hurricanes just might be, thanks to a revamped defense and an offense that hasn’t taken a step back with Beck replacing No. 1 NFL draft pick Cam Ward. Beck did everything he needed to as Miami took down Florida State on the road last week (241 yards on 74% completions with 4 touchdowns) for the team’s third ranked win of 2025.

3. Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri

Another player who deserves to remain on the list after a bye week, Hardy still leads all Power 4 players in rushing yards despite not playing last week. He could quickly vault himself to the top of this list by leading the Tigers to a signature win over Alabama that would cement him as a Heisman favorite and his team as a favorite in the SEC.

4. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

Has anyone flipped the narrative this season faster than Simpson? After a disappointing showing in ‘Bama’s loss at Florida State to open the season, Simpson has been money for the Tide. Among starting SEC QBs, he’s first in passing yards, second in passing touchdowns and is tied for the fewest interceptions. After waiting multiple years for his opportunity, Simpson is shining.

5. Blake Horvath, QB, Navy

After setting a program record for total yards in a game, we can no longer ignore what Horvath and the Midshipmen are doing. Sitting at 5-0 after last week’s 34-31 win over Air Force in the rare passing game shootout between service academies, Navy is firmly in contention to make the College Football Playoff thanks to Horvath, maybe the best quarterback a service academy has seen in quite some time.