B/R 5th Down: Is This the Best Beard in College Football?

Editor's Note: The 5th Down captures the top social college football stories of the week. Because the long, grueling offseason is underway, we'll focus on things that make us laugh, think or maybe cry, but mostly laugh.

1. Introducing: The Boom-Beard

If you've read 5th Down at all, you probably know facial hair is a big thing for us. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer sported this mustache way back in the day and the Internet darn near lost its chill. May we present to you, then, West Virginia punter Nick O'Toole and his fabulous lumberjack beard: 

O'Toole's outstanding facial hair isn't a new occurrence. Mountaineer fans are certainly aware of his now-extinct "Boom-stache":

Uncredited/Associated Press

No joke, I thought the guy's name was "Barnaby" for the better part of the last year. 

The mustache may be gone, but O'Toole's facial hair game remains as strong as ever. Shut it down—just give him the Ray Guy Award for best punter. 

2. Hype Videos on Hype Videos on Hype Videos on... 

You don't need me to tell you this, but the college football season is less than two weeks away. In fact, if you're really missing college football, North Dakota State and Montana play this Saturday (Aug. 29) on ESPN. 

In a way, the beginning of college football is like Christmas. Not in the typical, cliche way in that getting up on the first Saturday morning is like waking up on Christmas. Rather, college football is like the holiday in that we really do start celebrating it long before we actually need to. 

All of this is to say that there are hype videos out on the Internet. Lots and lots of hype videos. We've listed off a handful of them for you below. Don't see your favorite team? Feel free to post any applicable videos in the comments section. 'Tis the season for giving, after all. 

Anyway, we love you all very much, so we'll stop talking so you can delay work just a little bit longer by watching these videos. We'll get out of the way, too, because you're willing to run through us in order to run through that wall. 

3. When All Else Fails, Jump Over the Guy

Wide receiver Jackson Tate, a 2017 prospect out of Edgewood Academy in Elmore, Alabama, isn't shooting up the recruiting boards at the moment. However, he may raise a few eyebrows after pulling off this magnificent hurdle in a game last week against Escambia Academy. 

Few things are better in football than the hurdle. This from then-Michigan State running back Le'Veon Bell in 2012 against Boise State should be put in a museum: 

But let's give Tate some props as well. He didn't need to step over the defender; he cleared that guy straight up and went in for the score. 

4. Arizona State's Desert Ice Uniforms are Slick

Alternate uniforms are fun, but they're for the players and nobody else. Which is to say, here's hoping Arizona State's players love their new "Desert Ice" uniforms for the season opener against Texas A&M in Houston on Sept. 5. 

The all-whites are usually a good look for just about anyone, but the copper accents are pretty legit as well. 

You know what they say: Look good, play good. 

5. What in the Actual...?

So, this is a real thing. Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville's brother has a new song on YouTube called "Bangin' the Groove," and it's....well, it's something. According to the description, "Bangin' the Groove" is by "Dr. Jimmy Love featuring DJ Wait and Chas T aka Tuberwilly."

So...yeah. 

Between the flashing lights and "Gangnam Style" dancing, this is one interesting video. But we're just going to leave this here for you to watch and digest. Because we don't know what else to say.  

6. Ohio State's Secret Formula: Juice Boxes

If you can believe it, Ohio State became the first team in history to be a unanimous No. 1 preseason pick in the Associated Press poll. The Buckeyes have high hopes of earning another national championship, but the target on their collective backs will be even bigger than last year. 

So what's head coach Urban Meyer's secret formula? Juice boxes. And carrots. And Skittles. All three items make up the perfect little league snack pack. 

It brings to mind the scene from Space Jam when Michael Jordan gives the Looney Tunes a boost with his "secret stuff." Except Ohio State would be the Monstars in this analogy. Which is to say, it's not looking good for anyone playing the Buckeyes in 2015. 

7. Check out this Awesome Script Ohio on Google Maps

Reddit CFB

Back in May, a diehard Tennessee fan shared a photo of the program's signature "T" logo, which had been mowed into his yard and captured on Google Earth. It was basically college football's crop circle. 

Now, some Ohio State fans have done something cool as well by using Google Maps to spell out a script Ohio. Reddit user orweezy explained the process: 

"

My coworker friends and thought it would be cool to start off the football season by mapping and walking the Ohio Script this past weekend and using the stadium as the "I" dotting. Would anyone be interested in doing this with us next year? Maybe even as a fund raising event for a good cause.

"

It's a neat concept, and doing it again for charity would be even better. Hopefully this comes to fruition. 

8. Arizona Players Do the Haka War Dance

If the 2015 season hype videos didn't get you fired up, we have a second option: Arizona players doing the Haka War Dance. All we can say is if you're still not ready to put on a helmet and shoulder pads by this point, it's time to wonder what you're even doing here. 

9. Finally, Your Awesome Photo of the Week

Here's Oklahoma State's Boone Pickens Stadium in the background of an awesome thunderstorm. It's a great shot overall of Stillwater with the lightning, but the stadium gives it a cool college football feel. 

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football. He's on Twitter @BenKercheval, but his beard is pretty terrible.