Rolling Into Week 1
The college football season kicks off in earnest this week, starting Thursday night and going all the way through Sunday evening. But, week zero left me with some thoughts as well, so let’s hit it all in this week’s newsletter.
Week Zero Players of the Week
Kinder’s Texas Bowl Player of the Week - Kansas QB Jalon Daniels - the sixth year senior opened up his final campaign with a strong outing at home against UNLV. He completed 90% of his 20 passes for 176 yards and three TDs. He tacked on 47 yards rushing on eight carries in a 31-7 victory over Fresno State in renovated Memorial Stadium.
National Player of the Week - UNLV RB Jai’Den Thomas - He only had ten carries, but three of them went for touchdowns, one of 39 yards and one of 70 yards in the second quarter alone. Thomas helped UNLV stave off the pesky Idaho State Bengals, winning 38-31.
Week Zero Kudos
…to Hawai’i K Kansei Matsuzawa for going three for three, including the game winner at the buzzer to give the Rainbow Warriors a 23-20 upset over Stanford. Matsuzawa’s long winding story is one of legend and it was awesome to see him win the game with his field goals.
…to Kansas State DE Tobi Osunsanmi in a losing effort, racking up two sacks of Iowa State QB Rocco Becht in the opener in Ireland. He was seemingly shot out of a cannon to the QB all day long.
…to Iowa State WR Brett Eskildsen, wearing #9, following in the large footsteps of former All-American WR Jayden Higgins, catching a 24-yard over the shoulder catch for a TD in the win over Kansas State.
…to Western Kentucky QB Maverick McIvor who threw for over 400 yards in his first start and three touchdowns in an opening season win over rival Sam Houston. McIvor accounted for four touchdowns in leading the Hilltoppers to a 41-24 win over Sam Houston.
Week 1 Preview
#1 Texas at #3 Ohio State - It doesn’t get any bigger than this in college football, although the pollsters took some of the luster out of it being #1 vs. #2. Regardless, Texas QB Arch Manning starts for just the third time in his career (first on the road) as he attempts to knock off Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith and S Caleb Downs and the Buckeyes in the ‘Shoe.
#8 Alabama at Florida State - Transfer QB Tommy Castellanos has thrown down the gauntlet since arriving in Tallahassee as the starter for the Noles, stating that the Crimson Tide has no idea what will hit them on Saturday afternoon in the Doak. Alabama will start QB Ty Simpson in a bid to shut Castellanos up and take a win back to T-Town.
#9 LSU at #4 Clemson - The winner of this one should have rights to the term Death Valley until they play again. Regardless, this is the best QB matchup of the weekend with LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier and Clemson QB Cade Klubnik opposing one another as two of the top QBs in the country. This one, though, will come down to which defense makes a key play or three…and Clemson has the more talented defense.
#6 Notre Dame at #10 Miami, FL - This is a wonderful matchup down in Miami, FL. The Irish made a run to the national championship game last year, but will need to get new QB C.J. Carr settled in early against a talented, up-and-coming Miami defense. On the other side of the ledger, Miami, FL QB Carson Beck took a lot of NIL money to move to Coral Gables to resurrect his career in a game like this one. A win will endear him to the Hurricane faithful as Cam Ward did last year after beating Florida in Gainesville.
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