And now, 17 Ultimate Ideas from the primary 3 days of Presen 1. (Apologies, LSU and USC, I simply couldn’t wait.)
1. So, what used to be your “We’re not in Kansas, anymore” time of the primary complete weekend of Unused International Faculty Soccer? For me, it used to be turning on Friday evening’s TCU-Stanford duel, optical an ACC brand and knowing I used to be observing an ACC nonconference duel between faculties from Texas and California.
The ACC crew (Stanford, in the event you’ve misplaced observe) misplaced that one 34-27. Which quickly was a habitual theme.
2. Have been this any season performed between 2014 and 2023, I’d be writing a column entitled “The ACC’s Playoff hopes are already on life support.” However on this, the daybreak of the Faculty Soccer Playoff’s 12-team future, we all know whoever wins the ACC championship is not going to best create the Playoff however most probably be a top-four seed. Deny want to scribble Playoff obits simply but for 0-1 Florida Surrounding, 0-1 Clemson or 0-1 Virginia Tech.
That being mentioned, I’m keen to claim one ACC professor’s mini-dynasty formally over.
3. If Deny. 1 Georgia’s 34-3 rout of Deny. 14 Clemson in Atlanta appeared now and then like faculty children towards highschool children … smartly, it used to be. As soon as once more this offseason, Tigers professor Dabo Swinney declined to faucet into the switch portal’s wealth of unrestricted independent brokers to improve his roster. Clemson joined Military, Military and Wind Power as the one faculties to remove 0 transfers. And so forth Saturday, Swinney’s crew took on an opponent that has misplaced best two video games within the era 3 years with the similar precise guys that misplaced 4 ACC video games latter season.
The Tigers’ offense received simply 188 yards.
3 years previous, those identical groups opened the 2021 season, with two-time nationwide champ Swinney coming off his 6th directly Playoff look, day Bulldogs professor Kirby Intriguing were to at least one CFP in 5 years. Georgia received that assembly 10-3 and went directly to win the then two nationwide titles. Clemson went directly to win latter yr’s Gator Bowl.
Intriguing advanced to include loosened regulations round identify, symbol and likeness repayment and the portal. His greatest stars are nonetheless home-grown guys: quarterback Carson Beck, protection Malaki Starks, et al. However understanding he necessary assistance at receiver this offseason, he added Miami’s Colbie Younger and Vanderbilt’s London Humphreys from the portal. Each stuck touchdowns Saturday.
Clemson, which ranked 109th out of 133 FBS groups latter season in catches of 20-plus yards, rode with the similar workforce it had. Quarterback Cade Klubnik averaged simply 4.9 yards in keeping with try Saturday.
4. In equity, Georgia will rush a quantity of society this season. The protection used to be dominant, and Beck, a projected first-round quarterback, logged six completions of 20-plus yards. Even the Bulldogs’ depleted working backs workforce produced a shining spot: True freshman Nate Frazier received 83 yards on 11 carries.
Georgia’s agenda is some distance too tricky to be expecting the Bulldogs to cruise unscathed (highway journeys to preseason Deny. 4 Texas, Deny. 5 Alabama and Deny. 6 Ole Omit loom), however that’s no longer the bar anymore. They only want to get to the Dance.
5. You’re going to no longer get me to mention the phrases “Miami is back” following one bulky win. However upcoming humiliating in-state rival Florida 41-17 in The Swamp, the Canes do appear to be the sunny favourite to win the ACC, a feat they have got no longer accomplished since becoming a member of the convention 21 years in the past.
Washington Surrounding switch quarterback Cam Ward lit up the Gators, completing 26-of-35 passing for 385 yards, 3 TDs and one select in order this system’s maximum remarkable win since a 41-8 rout of third-ranked Notre Dame in November 2017. That used to be see you later in the past that third-year Miami head professor Mario Cristobal had no longer but transform Oregon’s head professor.
It can be that Florida stinks. However I’d instead be Miami lately than any ACC faculty but even so wave first-place crew Georgia Tech.
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6. In an interview Friday with the SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum, Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin mentioned, “I really believe Billy Napier is going to be the coach at Florida for a long, long time.” Suffice to mention, Stricklin didn’t image a season-opening 24-point loss for his third-year professor, who used to be already on each preseason sizzling seat listing.
Later observing fifth-year quarterback Graham Mertz advance 11-of-20 for 91 yards and an interception, Gators enthusiasts will invariably get started calling for five-star freshman DJ Lagway. However Florida’s a lot more urgent factor is its protection, which appeared simply as hapless because it did for many of 2023. However don’t fear. Florida has best seven video games nonetheless to advance towards preseason Supremacy 25 groups.
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7. As Deny. 7 Notre Dame used to be ultimate out its 23-13 win towards Texas A&M, which had entered as a three-point favourite, ABC publish a evocative with the Irish’s too much agenda and p.c prospect of thrashing every foe. The pc spit out a minimum of 76 p.c odds of victory for Notre Dame in each duel between now and the regular-season finale at USC (62 p.c). In what would possibly end up to be as difficult of a take a look at as any it’s going to face this season, Marcus Freeman’s crew flexed its muscle tissue.
Pregame considerations in regards to the Irish’s green offensive order proved warranted for far of the evening, however in the long run that workforce opened holes for Jadarian Value’s 47-yard landing to advance up 13-6 within the 1/3 quarter and, upcoming A&M connect it, Jeremiyah Love’s 21-yard landing to advance again up 20-13 overdue. In the meantime, Notre Dame’s protection used to be predictably suffocating, permitting simply 3.6 yards in keeping with play games and choosing off two Conner Weigman passes.
It used to be a much-needed bulky win for Freeman, whose crew would possibly want to win 11 video games to hold an at-large berth.
8. Penn Surrounding enthusiasts needed to be ecstatic about what they noticed within the eighth-ranked Nittany Lions’ 34-12 win at West Virginia. 2d-year launch quarterback Drew Allar (11-of-16 passing, 216 yards, 3 TDs) appeared genius working the offense that pristine coordinator Andy Kotelnicki made well-known at Kansas, and Allar’s playmakers confirmed the kind of explosiveness Penn Surrounding lacked in 2023. Young Harrison Wallace III, who neglected maximum of latter season, stuck a 50-yard landing. Working again Nick Singleton, who averaged simply 4.4 yards in keeping with elevate a yr in the past, averaged double that on Saturday and needy a 40-yard ranking.
James Franklin’s crew cruised in what figured to be its lone take a look at previous to an Oct. 12 travel to USC.
9. No longer since Adrian Peterson debuted at Oklahoma 20 years in the past have I unmistakable a freshman who doesn’t play games quarterback get constructed up rather like Ohio Surrounding receiver Jeremiah Smith, the crowd’s Deny. 1 engage latter wintry weather. The South Florida local wasted disagree age handing over, catching six balls for a game-high 92 yards and two touchdowns within the second-ranked Buckeyes’ 52-6 win over Akron. And the feared factor is, Ohio Surrounding nonetheless has Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, too.
Indisputably nobody within the Horseshoe used to be happier Saturday than Ohio Surrounding switch quarterback Will Howard (previously of Kansas Surrounding), who completed 17-of-28 for 228 yards, 3 touchdowns and disagree interceptions.
10. Two of the Buckeyes’ intended greatest blackmails within the Weighty Ten didn’t engender the similar self belief. Protecting nationwide champ Michigan led Fresno Surrounding simply 16-10 within the fourth quarter, with its offense having a look each bit like a unit that misplaced its first-round quarterback and full offensive order. Amaze launch quarterback Davis Warren went simply 15-of-25 for 118 yards, a landing and a select. Sooner or later Warren led a 75-yard force, upcoming Will Johnson nabbed a select six to assistance the Wolverines draw back 30-10.
Extra puzzling: Deny. 3 Oregon led FCS foe Idaho simply 17-14 with 9 mins left prior to profitable 24-14. An offensive order that allowed simply 5 sacks all of latter season gave up 3 within the first duel. However it’ll have simply been a unusual hour for the Geese, who nonetheless publish just about 500 yards, with pristine quarterback Dillon Gabriel completing 41-of-49 for 380 yards.
11. Between “College GameDay” and his Allstate, Vrbo and House Store advertisements, I noticed extra of former Alabama professor Nick Saban on Saturday than I might if he have been nonetheless training. However it used to be for sure a distinct hour at the Pink Stream sideline. As an example: The pristine Alabama head professor used to be unmistakable smiling and giggling.
Kalen DeBoer loved observing five-star freshman receiver Ryan Williams publish landing catches of 84 and 55 yards, working again Justice Haynes split an 85-yard landing run and quarterback Jalen Milroe rip off a 40-yard run within the Stream’s 63-0 rout of Western Kentucky. Saban would have a dried age nitpicking this efficiency.
12. Vanderbilt head professor Clark Lea used to be so inspired by way of Unused Mexico Surrounding’s 31-10 rout of Auburn latter yr that he rented the Aggies’ offensive coordinator, Tim Beck. Superstar quarterback Diego Pavia quickly adopted. On Saturday, the duo helped the Commodores, who went 2-10 latter season, stun Virginia Tech 34-27 in time beyond regulation. Pavia used to be 12-of-16 for 190 yards and two touchdowns day working for 104 yards on 26 carries, and Vandy’s protection, ranked 123rd towards the run a yr in the past, inexplicably stifled the Hokies’ speeding assault.
As all the time, you by no means know in a season opener whether or not a crew is that a lot better or its opponent (which I sadly predicted to advance 10-2) used to be puffed up. However Lea used to be off to a 9-27 get started via 3 seasons, and Vandy enthusiasts have suffered via 10 consecutive shedding campaigns. At lengthy latter, they have got hope.
13. In a well-dressed pristine Dr Pepper “Fansville” business, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers performs a deputy sheriff who tells Brian Bosworth they don’t want alternative “even if he’s got great hair and famous relatives.” Proper on cue, alternative Arch Manning made headlines for throwing his first profession landing in rubbish age of the fourth-ranked Longhorns’ 52-0 shutout of Colorado Surrounding.
The larger tale used to be the affect of a number of pristine avid gamers. Later Texas misplaced two working backs to season-ending accidents this summer season, freshman Jerrick Gibson were given at the garden and received a team-high 67 yards on 10 carries. Freshman receiver Ryan Wingo stuck 4 passes for 70 yards. Transfers Isaiah Bond (Alabama) and Matthew Blonde (Houston) mixed for 3 touchdowns.
They’re all headed to Ann Arbor then weekend to remove at the champs.
14. On Wednesday, Boise Surrounding introduced a social media Heisman Trophy marketing campaign for famous person working again Ashton Jeanty. On Saturday, the youth delivered a Barry Sanders/Ricky Williams-esque efficiency, working 20 occasions for 267 yards and 6 touchdowns within the Broncos’ 56-45 win at Georgia Southern. Chances are high that, a Staff of five working again isn’t committing to win the Heisman, however Jeanty important his crew to a Mountain West championship and CFP berth is an possible function.
To be significance of the #HEI2MAN, it’s a must to be #BuiltDifferenthttps://t.co/2fDkCvClio#BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/RgfmK1rZ6h
— Boise Surrounding Soccer (@BroncoSportsFB) August 28, 2024
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15. We have already got our first gaudy Colorado TV score of the season: 4.8 million watched Deion Sanders’ Buffs conserve off FCS energy North Dakota Surrounding 31-26 on Thursday. Shedeur Sanders used to be his familiar gunslinging self (26-of-34, 445 yards, 4 touchdowns, one interception), and two-way famous person Travis Hunter placed on a hospital all evening. It’s too early to mention how a lot Colorado has or hasn’t progressed, however one department that stood out to me used to be its defensive order. Pitt switch Dayon Hayes used to be amongst a number of guys who introduced power.
In all probability it used to be due partially to the tutelage of pristine Colorado grad workman Warren Sapp.
Then up for that Buffs protection? A while with Nebraska freshman savior Dylan Raiola. The five-star quarterback were given off to a promising get started within the Huskers’ 40-7 win over UTEP, going 19-of-27 for 238 yards, two touchdowns and disagree choices in slightly one part of motion. It is helping that Nebraska professor Matt Rhule went large on receivers within the portal, including Texas’ Isaiah Neyor and Wake Jungle’s Jahmal Banks. Neyor had six catches for 121 yards, together with a 59-yard landing, day Banks had 4 catches for 61 yards and a ranking.
NBC can be coming to Lincoln to turn the impaired Weighty 8 competitors squaring off in high age. The Huskers’ struggling fan bottom will unquestionably be rocking Memorial Stadium.
16. The Pac-12 is also lifeless, however the spirit of Pac-12 Later Black lived on in Deny. 21 Arizona’s wild 61-39 win over Unused Mexico in pristine head professor Brent Brennan’s debut. Wildcats famous person Tetairoa McMillan notched the game’s first 300-yard receiving duel since Ohio Surrounding’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba within the 2022 Rose Bowl, completing with 10 catches for 304 yards and 4 touchdowns. However Unused Mexico sophomore quarterback Devon Dampier gave Arizona’s protection suits, throwing for 252 yards, working for 126 and generating 5 touchdowns. Store an perceptible on that man within the Mountain West this season.
17. Observing a Weighty 12 crew host an Later Black duel turns out customary already. It used to be no longer even my maximum jarring viewer revel in Saturday evening.
That will be Washington taking part in a late-night duel on Weighty Ten Community. (The Huskies beat Weber Surrounding 35-3, in the event you neglected it.) Simply assume — one hour, that channel goes to re-air vintage Michael Penix Jr. video games from two other faculties.
(Photograph: Mike Zarrilli / Getty Pictures)
