Week of October 24, 2026
By Jim Baxter
Every weekend, college football produces outstanding individual performances. Some come from the biggest names in the sport, while others come from players who aren’t getting nearly enough attention.
My Helmet Stickers aren’t necessarily reserved for the players who put up the biggest statistics.
I look at production, execution, leadership, and most importantly, how a player impacts the outcome of a football game.
Here are the players who earned a JB Talking Sports Helmet Sticker this weekend.
SAM LEAVITT | QB | LSU
387 Passing Yards | 3 Passing TD | 54 Rushing Yards | 1 Rushing TD
I’ve been watching Leavitt’s development closely, and his performance against Auburn was impressive.
He completed 32 of 45 passes without throwing an interception while accounting for four touchdowns.
What stood out to me wasn’t simply the numbers. It was his ability to distribute the football, make good decisions, and keep the LSU offense moving.
Leavitt accounted for 441 yards of total offense in LSU’s 38-17 victory.
He’s becoming one of the more interesting quarterbacks in the country.
Helmet Sticker Earned: Outstanding quarterback play and offensive execution.
KEELON RUSSELL | QB | ALABAMA
311 Passing Yards | 3 TD
Russell continues to impress me.
Against Texas A&M, the young Alabama quarterback completed 19 of 30 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns.
But what earned him a Helmet Sticker was his performance when Alabama needed him most.
Trailing 20-17 entering the fourth quarter, Russell helped lead the Crimson Tide to two touchdowns and a 31-20 victory.
I’ve had Russell in my Heisman conversation, and he’s giving me no reason to remove him.
Helmet Sticker Earned: Fourth-quarter leadership and performance under pressure.
DYLAN STEWART | EDGE | SOUTH CAROLINA
Game-Changing Strip Sack
Sometimes one play is worth more than an entire afternoon of impressive statistics.
With Tennessee threatening to steal a victory in Columbia, Stewart delivered the biggest defensive play of the game.
His strip sack of George MacIntyre gave South Carolina possession with less than a minute remaining.
The Gamecocks capitalized with a game-winning field goal.
I’ve been critical of Stewart’s consistency and discipline at times, but there’s absolutely no questioning his physical talent.
That’s the kind of play NFL scouts want to see from a potential first-round draft pick.
Helmet Sticker Earned: Defensive play of the weekend.
RALEEK BROWN | RB | TEXAS
157 Rushing Yards | 23 Carries
While much of the attention surrounding Texas continues to focus on Arch Manning, Brown deserves considerable credit for the Longhorns’ victory over Ole Miss.
He rushed for 157 yards, averaging nearly seven yards per carry.
Texas needed offensive balance against a talented Ole Miss team, and Brown provided it.
His ability to create explosive runs helped take pressure off Manning and gave the Longhorns a much-needed offensive dimension.
Helmet Sticker Earned: Dominant rushing performance against a Top 10 opponent.
JACKSON HARRIS | WR | LSU
9 Receptions | 178 Yards | 2 TD
Harris was simply outstanding against Auburn.
Nine receptions, 178 yards, and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard scoring reception.
He consistently created problems for the Auburn secondary and provided Sam Leavitt with a reliable explosive-play threat.
When a receiver averages nearly 20 yards per reception while catching nine passes, he’s doing something right.
Helmet Sticker Earned: Explosive offensive performance.
ISAIAH SATEGNA III | WR | OKLAHOMA
8 Receptions | 164 Yards | 1 TD
Oklahoma needed somebody to step up against Mississippi State, and Sategna answered the call.
He caught eight passes for 164 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown reception.
His ability to stretch the field gave John Mateer opportunities to attack the Mississippi State secondary.
Without Sategna’s performance, Oklahoma might have had a much more difficult afternoon.
Helmet Sticker Earned: Outstanding receiving performance.
LANORRIS SELLERS | QB | SOUTH CAROLINA
210 Passing Yards | 96 Rushing Yards | 3 Total TD
I’ve probably been as critical of Sellers as anyone this season.
And I believe much of that criticism has been justified.
But I’m also going to give credit when it’s earned.
Against Tennessee, Sellers accounted for 306 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.
His 31-yard touchdown run in the first quarter demonstrated the physical ability that makes him such a dangerous player.
And his fourth-quarter touchdown helped South Carolina get back into the football game.
Was it a perfect performance?
Absolutely not.
But Sellers made plays when his team desperately needed them.
Helmet Sticker Earned: Competitive toughness and offensive production.
🏆 JB’S GOLD HELMET STICKER
SAM LEAVITT | LSU
My Gold Helmet Sticker this week goes to LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt.
There were several outstanding performances around the SEC, but Leavitt’s combination of production, efficiency, decision-making, and command of the offense stood out.
Four total touchdowns, 441 yards of offense, and no turnovers.
That’s the kind of quarterback performance that gets my attention.
And from an NFL evaluation standpoint, Leavitt continues to give scouts plenty to study.
JB’S FINAL THOUGHTS
One thing I’ve learned from evaluating football players over the years is that statistics don’t always tell the entire story.
A quarterback can throw for 400 yards and still make questionable decisions.
A defensive player can finish with relatively modest statistics and make the single biggest play of the afternoon.
That’s why my Helmet Stickers aren’t based solely on numbers.
They’re about impact.
They’re about execution.
And they’re about players stepping up when their teams need them most.
Congratulations to this week’s recipients.
You’ve earned your stickers.
