And now, 18 ideas from Week 3, which was awfully enjoyable to look at, as long as you weren’t in Gainesville or Tallahassee, Fla.
1. Florida and Florida State declare a complete of six nationwide championships. Their state produces extra blue-chip recruits than any outdoors of Texas. And their head coaches, Florida’s Billy Napier and Florida State’s Mike Norvell, make a mixed $17 million.
How can their groups each be so unhealthy on the similar time?
2. Florida State, which went 13-1 a yr in the past, is now 0-3 after its newest dud, a 20-12 residence defeat to Memphis. The Seminoles gained simply 238 complete yards and placed on a Keystone Cops sizzle reel, together with a muffed punt during which two gamers bumped into one another and an offsides on a Memphis fourth-and-8 punt that allowed the Tigers to go for it and convert. FSU managed to get inside one rating and had an out of doors probability to drive for the tie, however DJ Uiagalelei was sacked twice in three performs. The beleaguered switch quarterback was 16 of 30 for 201 yards.
Poor Memphis (3-0) thought it was going to Tallahassee to get a giant resume-boosting nonconference win, however Norvell’s bewilderingly inept workforce is careening towards a 4-8 (or worse) form of season.
It appears so way back now that Florida State was the game’s collective object of sympathy after the Faculty Soccer Playoff choice committee’s snub of a 13-0 workforce final December. It was solely a few weeks later that the college filed its lawsuit to get out of the ACC, with an argument that quantities to “We’re too good to your crappy TV deal.” The Noles are 0-4 since. The ACC filed its personal swimsuit in opposition to FSU, but it surely’s turning into more durable by the week for the league to show damages.
GO DEEPER
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3. About two hours to the east, a Texas A&M workforce that hadn’t gained a real street recreation in practically three years trounced Napier’s Gators 33-20 within the rain. It was 33-7 late within the third quarter, by which level it appeared like a spring recreation within the stands. This, on high of Florida’s season-opening 41-17 loss to Miami in the identical stadium, all however assures Napier gained’t make it to Yr 4. The one query is whether or not athletic director Scott Stricklin will hold his personal job lengthy sufficient to drag the plug.
Florida is a puzzling place. It has reached two excessive highs, underneath Steve Spurrier within the Nineties and City Meyer within the 2000s, and been mediocre in practically each different period. Whoever replaces Napier will turn out to be the Gators’ fifth head coach since Meyer stepped down after the 2010 season. He higher be a heck of a recruiter, as a result of that program desperately wants a expertise infusion.
4. It seems Quinn Ewers does in reality want backup. When Texas’ beginning quarterback suffered a strained stomach (per coach Steve Sarkisian) within the second quarter in opposition to 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 broke off a 67-yard landing run, the longest by a Longhorns quarterback since a man named Vince Younger.
Sark indicated afterward that Ewers’ damage shouldn’t be critical, but it surely’s unsure whether or not he’ll be again for subsequent week in opposition to Louisiana-Monroe. Thankfully, No. 2 Texas (3-0) has the very best backup quarterback within the nation.
5. I’m not a fan of docking groups for profitable ugly on the street and thus can not carry myself to overreact to No. 1 Georgia’s unusual 13-12 win at Kentucky (1-2). If something, it has turn out to be a convention: Georgia (3-0) gained 14-3 in Lexington in 2020 and 16-6 there in 2022. Kirby Sensible doubtless relishes the wake-up name for his workforce, which has now gained 41 consecutive regular-season video games.
Georgia not less than had one excuse for its disjointed offense, as veteran guard Tate Ratledge left with an damage early within the second quarter. Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has no such excuse for punting from his personal 48, down 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 final week in opposition to USF and solely appeared extra explosive within the fourth-ranked Tide’s 42-10 waltz at Wisconsin on Saturday. Quarterback Jalen Milroe threw three touchdowns and ran for 2, stud freshman receiver Ryan Williams had 4 catches for 78 yards, Washington switch Germie Bernard caught a 26-yard landing and tailback Jam Miller had a 34-yard landing run for the 3-0 Crimson Tide.
The Badgers (2-1) are nonetheless struggling to seek out themselves in Yr 2 underneath Luke Fickell and certain will now be with out quarterback Tyler Van Dyke, who was on crutches following a first-half knee damage.
7. What a missed alternative for South Carolina (2-1), which led visiting LSU 17-0 early and 33-29 with lower than two minutes left earlier than falling 36-33. The Gamecocks had landing runs of 75 and 66 yards, however their offense stalled after beginning quarterback LaNorris Sellers suffered an ankle damage shortly earlier than halftime. Additionally, what would have been a dagger fourth-quarter choose six bought worn out by an pointless roughness penalty on edge rusher Kyle Kennard, arguably the very best participant on the sphere for many of the recreation.
One huge brilliant spot for LSU (2-1): a breakout displaying by freshman working again Caden Durham, who carried 11 occasions for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
8. On Thursday, Energy 5 castoffs Oregon State and Washington State bought to strut for the primary time in practically a yr, as the rebuilding Pac-12 raided the Mountain West for 4 of its greatest applications. 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 contained in the 2-yard line with simply over a minute left, the Cougars protection stuffed an choice play to take down one of many colleges whose departure to the Massive Ten helped kill the outdated Pac-12. Wazzu quarterback John Mateer, who broke touchdowns of 23 and 25 yards within the win, continued his emergence as considered one of this younger season’s breakout stars.
Oregon State (2-1) was not as lucky in its personal in-state rivalry recreation, falling 49-14 at residence to No. 9 Oregon (3-0). The Geese offense was surprisingly out of sync of their first two video games, however a few adjustments on the offensive line could have solved their points. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, sacked seven occasions in his first two video games, was 20 of 24 for 291 yards and two touchdowns, ran for a 54-yard TD and was not sacked as soon as, as his workforce averaged 9.3 yards per play. This appeared way more just like the Oregon workforce voters anticipated to see once they ranked the Geese No. 3 within the preseason polls.
GO DEEPER
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9. No. 18 Notre Dame (2-1) will need to have flushed that loss to Northern Illinois rapidly. The Irish went on the street and handed Purdue its worst loss in program historical past, 66-7, in a recreation Notre Dame led 42-0 at halftime. It was the form of explosive efficiency followers had been hoping for this season, with touchdowns of 70, 48, 34 and 28 yards on offense, plus a 34-yard choose six by 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 within the second quarter alone. He was nonetheless pretty quiet within the passing recreation, although the Irish didn’t want him to go for very lengthy.
10. In considered one of simply two High 25 video games over the weekend, No. 6 Missouri (3-0) noticed No. 24 Boston Faculty (2-1) a 14-3 lead, stormed again to steer 17-14 at halftime and gained 27-21. The Tigers protection held the Eagles to 49 yards on the bottom, gave up three passing touchdowns to BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos but in addition picked him off twice. In the meantime, it seems Eli Drinkwitz hit within the portal jackpot when he landed Appalachian State working again Nate Noel, who had 22 carries for 121 yards.
I don’t imagine Mizzou is definitely the No. 6 workforce within the nation, however it could have probably the most favorable schedule within the SEC. The league has 4 different top-10 groups, of which the Tigers face one, No. 4 Alabama.
11. Within the different High 25 recreation, performed Friday evening, No. 14 Kansas State (3-0) appeared each bit like a Massive 12 title contender in its 31-7 rout of No. 20 Arizona (2-1). Okay-State allowed an early landing, then shut out Arizona’s explosive offense the remainder of the way in which, whereas quarterback Avery Johnson ran for 110 yards and Colorado switch Dylan Edwards broke a 71-yard punt return landing. It was a formidable rebound for Okay-State’s protection after struggling in opposition to Tulane the week earlier than.
Though Arizona is within the Massive 12 now, this was a beforehand scheduled nonconference recreation and didn’t depend within the league standings. As a result of nothing on this sport is sensible.
12. UNLV (3-0) has turn out to be among the best tales within the sport. Barry Odom got here in final yr and led the Rebels to a nine-win season for the primary time since 1984. Now, they’re 3-0 for the primary time since that season after knocking off Kansas 23-20 on Friday. Odom was the defensive coordinator at Arkansas previous to taking the UNLV job, and a pair of his former gamers, linebacker Jackson Woodard and security Jalen Catalon, helped the Rebels maintain Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels to 153 passing yards and two interceptions.
It’s nonetheless early, however UNLV and Boise State appear to be the clear-cut favorites for the Mountain West championship, which this yr may include a CFP berth.
13. No. 15 Oklahoma performs its first SEC recreation subsequent week in opposition to Tennessee, and I don’t know what to anticipate from Brent Venables’ 3-0 workforce. It bears nearly no 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 not reached 200 passing yards in a recreation this season. However Venables’ protection is legit. Every week after lighting up Kansas State, Tulane’s Darian Mensah was simply 14 of 32 for 166 yards in opposition to Oklahoma.
I’m assured the group in Norman might be electrical subsequent week however unsure about every part else.
14. At his introductory information convention, first-year Indiana coach Curt Cignetti memorably informed reporters, “I win. Google me.” The previous James Madison head man is so far true to his phrase. The Hoosiers (3-0) went to the Rose Bowl and trounced UCLA (1-1) 42-13. Cignetti nailed it when he introduced in former MAC Offensive Participant of the Yr 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 three opponents 150-23, play their subsequent three video games in opposition to Charlotte, Maryland and Northwestern. They might be bowl-eligible by the primary weekend of October. UCLA, which performs its subsequent three in opposition to No. 16 LSU, No. 9 Oregon and No. 8 Penn State, doubtless is not going to be going bowling this season.
15. Pittsburgh (3-0) is having a blast dwelling dangerously. Final week the Panthers, down 27-13 getting into the fourth quarter, kicked a area aim with 17 seconds left to beat Cincinnati 28-27. This week, they trailed rival West Virginia 34-24 with 4:55 left earlier than rallying to win 38-34. The important thing to each wins: Alabama switch quarterback Eli Holstein. The redshirt freshman was 21 of 30 for 301 yards and three touchdowns, together with a 40-yard TD to Daejon Reynolds with 3:06 left. It’s fairly the begin to the season for coach Pat Narduzzi after final season’s 3-9 debacle.
16. I wasn’t kidding final week once I stated Colorado’s protection has gotten higher. The Buffs pressured 4 turnovers and shut down rival Colorado State 28-9 of their greatest general efficiency since early final season. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw 4 touchdowns, and Travis Hunter had one other do-everything efficiency: 13 catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns and an interception on protection. However maybe most encouraging for coach Deion Sanders’ workforce: It ran the ball (a little bit). Freshman tailback Micah Welch ran 9 occasions for 65 yards.
Don’t go penciling in Colorado for a bowl recreation simply but, however that protection must be good for not less than a few wins.
17. We stated all offseason the brand new 16-team Massive 12 can be extremely aggressive, and the primary convention recreation of the season didn’t disappoint. UCF (3-0), down 31-13 within the third quarter, stormed again to win 35-34 at TCU (2-1) regardless of having three kicks blocked. Fourth-year coach Gus Malzahn has assembled fairly an offense in Orlando. Operating again RJ Harvey, who ran for 1,416 yards final season, scored on touchdowns of 29 and 27 yards, and former Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson hit receiver Kobe Hudson (six catches, 145 yards, two TDs) for the game-tying 20-yard catch with 36 seconds left.
The Knights have every week off earlier than welcoming Colorado to the Bounce Home.
18. Final week, Northern Illinois did the MAC proud. This week, it was Toledo (3-0), which housed Mississippi State 41-17 in Starkville, probably the most lopsided win for a MAC workforce over an SEC workforce since Ohio beat Kentucky 35-6 in 1971. It’s a fantastic milestone for ninth-year coach Jason Candle’s program, which gained the convention in 2022 and went 11-3 final season.
However the hole between the 2 conferences has not utterly closed but. Additionally on Saturday, No. 7 Tennessee hammered 0-3 Kent State, 71-0. Although it was solely 65-0 at halftime.
(Photograph: James Gilbert / Getty Photographs)
