And now, 18 ideas from Hour 3, which used to be awfully a laugh to look at, as long as you weren’t in Gainesville or Tallahassee, Fla.
1. Florida and Florida Environment declare a complete of six nationwide championships. Their atmosphere produces extra blue-chip recruits than any outdoor of Texas. And their head coaches, Florida’s Billy Napier and Florida Environment’s Mike Norvell, assemble a mixed $17 million.
How can their groups each be so sinister on the identical date?
2. Florida Environment, which went 13-1 a yr in the past, is now 0-3 then its unedited dud, a 20-12 house defeat to Memphis. The Seminoles received simply 238 general yards and placed on a Keystone Police officers sizzle reel, together with a muffed punt by which two avid gamers bumped into each and every alternative and an offsides on a Memphis fourth-and-8 punt that allowed the Tigers to travel for it and convert. FSU controlled to get inside of one ranking and had an outdoor anticipation to power for the secured, however DJ Uiagalelei used to be sacked two times in 3 performs. The beleaguered switch quarterback used to be 16 of 30 for 201 yards.
Beggarly Memphis (3-0) idea it used to be committing to Tallahassee to get a heavy resume-boosting nonconference win, however Norvell’s bewilderingly inept staff is careening towards a 4-8 (or worse) roughly season.
It sort of feels see you later in the past now that Florida Environment used to be the game’s collective object of reassurance then the School Soccer Playoff variety committee’s snub of a 13-0 staff latter December. It used to be best a few weeks next that the college filed its lawsuit to withdraw from the ACC, with a controversy that quantities to “We’re too good for your crappy TV deal.” The Noles are 0-4 since. The ACC filed its personal swimsuit towards FSU, but it surely’s turning into tougher by means of the date for the league to turn out damages.
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3. About two hours to the east, a Texas A&M staff that hadn’t received a real highway duel in just about 3 years trounced Napier’s Gators 33-20 within the mist. It used to be 33-7 overdue within the 3rd quarter, during which level it appeared like a spring duel within the stands. This, on zenith of Florida’s season-opening 41-17 loss to Miami in the similar stadium, all however assures Napier received’t assemble it to Life 4. The one query is whether or not athletic director Scott Stricklin will secure his personal activity lengthy plenty to drag the plug.
Florida is a puzzling park. It has reached two latter highs, beneath Steve Spurrier within the Nineteen Nineties and City Meyer within the 2000s, and been mediocre in just about each and every alternative past. Whoever replaces Napier will change into the Gators’ 5th head mentor since Meyer stepped indisposed then the 2010 season. He higher be a heck of a recruiter, as a result of that program desperately wishes a ability infusion.
4. It seems Quinn Ewers does in truth want spare. When Texas’ origination quarterback suffered a strained stomach (consistent with mentor Steve Sarkisian) in the second one quarter towards UTSA, redshirt freshman Arch Manning got here in and cranked out his personal private spotlight reel in a 56-7 rout. Peyton and Eli’s nephew threw for 4 touchdowns and penniless off a 67-yard landing run, the longest by means of a Longhorns quarterback since a man named Vince Younger.
Sark indicated in a while that Ewers’ shock isn’t severe, but it surely’s unsure whether or not he’ll be again for later date towards Louisiana-Monroe. Thankfully, Negative. 2 Texas (3-0) has the most efficient spare quarterback within the nation.
5. I’m no longer keen on docking groups for successful unpleasant at the highway and thus can not convey myself to overreact to Negative. 1 Georgia’s unusual 13-12 win at Kentucky (1-2). If anything else, it has change into a practice: Georgia (3-0) received 14-3 in Lexington in 2020 and 16-6 there in 2022. Kirby Intriguing most likely relishes the warning sign for his staff, which has now received 41 consecutive regular-season video games.
Georgia no less than had one mercy for its disjointed offense, as veteran secure Tate Ratledge gone with an shock early in the second one quarter. Kentucky mentor Mark Stoops has disagree such mercy for punting from his personal 48, indisposed one level with 2:58 left. The Wildcats did get the ball again — at their very own 20 with 9 seconds left.
6. Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama offense got here alive within the fourth quarter latter date towards USF and best appeared extra explosive within the fourth-ranked Stream’s 42-10 waltz at Wisconsin on Saturday. Quarterback Jalen Milroe threw 3 touchdowns and ran for 2, stud freshman receiver Ryan Williams had 4 catches for 78 yards, Washington switch Germie Bernard stuck a 26-yard landing and tailback Jam Miller had a 34-yard landing run for the 3-0 Pink Stream.
The Badgers (2-1) are nonetheless suffering to search out themselves in Life 2 beneath Luke Fickell and most likely will now be with out quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who used to be on crutches following a first-half knee shock.
7. What a overlooked alternative for South Carolina (2-1), which led visiting LSU 17-0 early and 33-29 with not up to two mins left ahead of falling 36-33. The Gamecocks had landing runs of 75 and 66 yards, however their offense stalled then origination quarterback LaNorris Dealers suffered an ankle shock in a while ahead of halftime. Additionally, what would had been a dagger fourth-quarter pick out six were given burnt up by means of an needless roughness penalty on edge rusher Kyle Kennard, arguably the most efficient participant at the garden for lots of the duel.
One heavy glorious spot for LSU (2-1): a breakout appearing by means of freshman working again Caden Durham, who carried 11 instances for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
8. On Thursday, Energy 5 castoffs Oregon Environment and Washington Environment were given to strut for the primary date in just about a yr, because the rebuilding Pac-12 raided the Mountain West for 4 of its absolute best systems. The Cougars (3-0) adopted it up on Saturday with a cathartic 24-19 Apple Cup win over hated Washington. On a fourth-and-goal from within the 2-yard order with simply over a modest left, the Cougars protection filled an choice play games to tug indisposed one of the crucial faculties whose leaving to the Weighty Ten helped execute the impaired Pac-12. Wazzu quarterback John Mateer, who penniless touchdowns of 23 and 25 yards within the win, persevered his emergence as one in all this younger season’s breakout stars.
Oregon Environment (2-1) used to be no longer as lucky in its personal in-state contention duel, falling 49-14 at house to Negative. 9 Oregon (3-0). The Geese offense used to be unusually out of sync of their first two video games, however a few adjustments at the offensive order could have solved their problems. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, sacked seven instances in his first two video games, used to be 20 of 24 for 291 yards and two touchdowns, ran for a 54-yard TD and used to be no longer sacked as soon as, as his staff averaged 9.3 yards consistent with play games. This appeared a lot more just like the Oregon staff electorate anticipated to look once they ranked the Geese Negative. 3 within the preseason polls.
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9. Negative. 18 Notre Dame (2-1) should have flushed that loss to Northern Illinois briefly. The Irish went at the highway and passed Purdue its worst loss in program historical past, 66-7, in a duel Notre Dame led 42-0 at halftime. It used to be the type of explosive efficiency lovers have been hoping for this season, with touchdowns of 70, 48, 34 and 28 yards on offense, plus a 34-yard pick out six by means of defensive lineman Boubacar Traore. Quarterback Riley Leonard confirmed off the wheels we noticed from him at Duke, with landing runs of 34 and 13 yards in the second one quarter lonely. He used to be nonetheless moderately quitness within the passing duel, although the Irish didn’t want him to cross for terribly lengthy.
10. In one in all simply two Lead 25 video games over the weekend, Negative. 6 Missouri (3-0) noticed Negative. 24 Boston School (2-1) a 14-3 govern, stormed again to govern 17-14 at halftime and received 27-21. The Tigers protection held the Eagles to 49 yards at the grassland, gave up 3 passing touchdowns to BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos but in addition picked him off two times. In the meantime, it seems that Eli Drinkwitz strike within the portal jackpot when he landed Appalachian Environment working again Nate Noel, who had 22 carries for 121 yards.
I don’t consider Mizzou is in truth the Negative. 6 staff within the nation, however it is going to have probably the most favorable agenda within the SEC. The league has 4 alternative top-10 groups, of which the Tigers face one, Negative. 4 Alabama.
11. Within the alternative Lead 25 duel, performed Friday evening, Negative. 14 Kansas Environment (3-0) appeared each and every bit like a Weighty 12 identify contender in its 31-7 rout of Negative. 20 Arizona (2-1). Ok-Environment allowed an early landing, upcoming close out Arizona’s explosive offense the extra of the way in which, life quarterback Avery Johnson ran for 110 yards and Colorado switch Dylan Edwards penniless a 71-yard punt go back landing. It used to be an important rebound for Ok-Environment’s protection then suffering towards Tulane the date ahead of.
Even though Arizona is within the Weighty 12 now, this used to be a prior to now scheduled nonconference duel and didn’t rely within the league standings. As a result of not anything on this recreation is sensible.
12. UNLV (3-0) has change into one of the crucial absolute best tales within the recreation. Barry Odom got here in latter yr and led the Rebels to a nine-win season for the primary date since 1984. Now, they’re 3-0 for the primary date since that season then knocking off Kansas 23-20 on Friday. Odom used to be the defensive coordinator at Arkansas previous to taking the UNLV activity, and 2 his former avid gamers, linebacker Jackson Woodard and protection Jalen Catalon, helped the Rebels stock Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels to 153 passing yards and two interceptions.
It’s nonetheless early, however UNLV and Boise Environment seem like the straight forward favorites for the Mountain West championship, which this yr may include a CFP berth.
13. Negative. 15 Oklahoma performs its first SEC duel later date towards Tennessee, and I don’t know what to anticipate from Brent Venables’ 3-0 staff. It bears nearly disagree resemblance to the Bob Stoops/Lincoln Riley pass-crazy offenses. Quarterback Jackson Arnold threw for 169 yards and ran for 97 within the Sooners’ 34-19 win over Tulane (1-2). He has no longer reached 200 passing yards in a duel this season. However Venables’ protection is official. A date then lighting fixtures up Kansas Environment, Tulane’s Darian Mensah used to be simply 14 of 32 for 166 yards towards Oklahoma.
I’m assured the folk in Norman will likely be electrical later date however unsure about all the things else.
14. At his introductory information convention, first-year Indiana mentor Curt Cignetti memorably informed journalists, “I win. Google me.” The previous James Madison head guy is up to now true to his guarantee. The Hoosiers (3-0) going to the Rose Bowl and trounced UCLA (1-1) 42-13. Cignetti nailed it when he introduced in former MAC Offensive Participant of the Life Kurtis Rourke from Ohio. The sixth-year quarterback completed 25 of 33 for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The Hoosiers, who’ve outscored their first 3 warring parties 150-23, play games their later 3 video games towards Charlotte, Maryland and Northwestern. They is also bowl-eligible by means of the primary weekend of October. UCLA, which performs its later 3 towards Negative. 16 LSU, Negative. 9 Oregon and Negative. 8 Penn Environment, most likely is probably not going bowling this season.
15. Pittsburgh (3-0) is having a dwelling dangerously. Utmost date the Panthers, indisposed 27-13 coming into the fourth quarter, kicked a garden target with 17 seconds left to overcome Cincinnati 28-27. This date, they trailed rival West Virginia 34-24 with 4:55 left ahead of rallying to win 38-34. The important thing to each wins: Alabama switch quarterback Eli Holstein. The redshirt freshman used to be 21 of 30 for 301 yards and 3 touchdowns, together with a 40-yard TD to Daejon Reynolds with 3:06 left. It’s rather the begin to the season for mentor Pat Narduzzi then latter season’s 3-9 debacle.
16. I wasn’t kidding latter date once I stated Colorado’s protection has gotten higher. The Buffs pressured 4 handovers and close indisposed rival Colorado Environment 28-9 of their absolute best general efficiency since early latter season. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw 4 touchdowns, and Travis Hunter had every other do-everything efficiency: 13 catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns and an interception on protection. However possibly maximum encouraging for mentor Deion Sanders’ staff: It ran the ball (a tiny). Freshman tailback Micah Welch ran 9 instances for 65 yards.
Don’t travel penciling in Colorado for a bowl duel simply but, however that protection must be excellent for no less than a few wins.
17. We stated all offseason the untouched 16-team Weighty 12 can be extremely aggressive, and the primary convention duel of the season didn’t disappoint. UCF (3-0), indisposed 31-13 within the 3rd quarter, stormed again to win 35-34 at TCU (2-1) in spite of having 3 kicks prohibited. Fourth-year mentor Gus Malzahn has assembled rather an offense in Orlando. Operating again RJ Harvey, who ran for 1,416 yards latter season, scored on touchdowns of 29 and 27 yards, and previous Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson strike receiver Kobe Hudson (six catches, 145 yards, two TDs) for the game-tying 20-yard catch with 36 seconds left.
The Knights have a date off ahead of welcoming Colorado to the Leap Area.
18. Utmost date, Northern Illinois did the MAC proud. This date, it used to be Toledo (3-0), which housed Mississippi Environment 41-17 in Starkville, probably the most lopsided win for a MAC staff over an SEC staff for the reason that Rockets beat Kentucky 35-6 in 1971. It’s a superb milestone for ninth-year mentor Jason Candle’s program, which received the convention in 2022 and went 11-3 latter season.
However the hole between the 2 meetings has no longer utterly closed but. Additionally on Saturday, Negative. 7 Tennessee hammered 0-3 Kent Environment, 71-0. Despite the fact that it used to be best 65-0 at halftime.
(Picture: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs)
