NFL MVP Chase Week 1; Plus: FBS Week 2 Playoff Eliminations, Dwight, Carmelo

 

Image: Torsten Bolten

I hoped to provide this earlier in the week, but distractions got in the way. Data included at posting (Friday, September 12, 2025) doesn't include the Thursday night NFL game or college games played yesterday or today.

TODAY

• NBAers in the Basketball Hall of Fame

• NFL MVP Chase

• College Football losers

DWIGHT AND CARMELO

Last weekend, the Basketball Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2025. Former NBA stars Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony were in the group.

They both belong in the Basketball Hall of Fame, which encompasses not only the NBA but also the WNBA, as well as international and college basketball for both men and women. Dwight belongs because he was the best center in the world for many years, and Carmelo was a longtime NBA star with an NCAA championship and three Olympic gold medals.

When the  75 greatest NBA players list was released in 2021, Carmelo was on it, and Dwight was not. I wanted to comment after hearing Zach Lowe and Howard Beck discuss their legacies.

I believe Dwight belonged on the list and Carmelo did not. When I created my own 75 list, I just added 25 to the 50 already named in 1996's Top 50 list. At the time, there were 21 players since 1986 (and not in the original 50) who were both:

• 2-time (or more) First Team All-NBA

• An MVP and/or the best player on a Finals team

I included them all on my list, and Dwight was one of them. He was a 5-time First Team All-NBA, made eight All-NBA teams in total, and led the Magic to the 2009 Finals. He also finished in the top five for MVP voting four times.

Carmelo was never First Team All-NBA, with six All-NBA selections total and one top-five MVP finish. I noted "a lack of sustained playoff success" as a reason to keep him and several others off the list. Yes, his prime years had conference rivals like Duncan, Kobe, Dirk, and (later) LeBron, so no one can fault him for not winning a championship. That said, he won just three playoff rounds in the 13 seasons where his teams made the playoffs. Carmelo was great, but rarely elite. 

NFL MVP CHASE

The 2025 MVP Chase, as always, begins with one condition: what a player does in losses will, under no circumstances, help his case for the Most Valuable Player award. That's because the value in the player is in his contributions to team success, and team success means winning. The MVP isn't a "best" or "outstanding" player award.

For quarterbacks, I'll use the stat I invented called the QBI (Quarterback Index). In a victory:

• Total up the quarterbacks' first downs and touchdowns, both passing and rushing.

• Subtract the total number of interceptions, sacks, and fumbles.

• To earn an MVP point, the minimum QBI is 12. Quarterbacks can earn up to 1.5 points if their QBI is 22+

For backs and receivers, I'll use what I call YSA (yards from scrimmage adjusted):

• Determine their yards from scrimmage (yards rushing and receiving)

• Add 10 for each touchdown

• Subtract 10 for each fumble.

To earn an MVP point, the minimum YSA is 100, but backs and receivers can earn up to 1.5 points if they reach 200 or more. Only in victories, of course.

That said, here are the first entrants into the NFL MVP Playoff Chase of 2025.

Thanks to Stathead for the data I needed for this list.

There are several ties where multiple players have wound up with the same number. There will be greater separation as the weeks go by.

FBS Playoff Eliminations

As I mentioned last week, I will remove nine teams from college football playoff consideration each week. This will mean 19 teams left entering the conference championship game weekend. After that, the list will be reduced to the twelve that deserve to make the playoffs.

Wishing the best for these nine teams, but we won't be seeing them in mid-December:

1. Eastern Michigan - Lost to an FCS team

2. UMass - Lost to an FCS team

3. Louisiana-Monroe - Lost to Alabama by 73

4. Akron - Lost to Nebraska by 68

5. Oklahoma State - Lost to Oregon by 66

6. Kent State - Lost by 48 to Texas Tech

7. Kennesaw State - Lost by 47 to Indiana

8. Ball State - Lost to Ball State by 39 (after losing to Purdue by 31)

9. Georgia Southern - Lost by 39 to USC after losing by 28 to Fresno State

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Contact James Leroy Wilson for writing, editing, research, and other work at jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com. Visit JL Cells for my non-sports writing.