The Race Is On

The race for the CFP Playoff is officially on! The opening week of games (plus the Dublin opener) has activated the warmer on the stove as the new campaign is officially underway.

Solid noise electrified the spread. Georgia Tech stunned the Seminoles in Dublin to kickstart, the Hurricanes left a disaster in the swamp, plus several players dropped some major-major statistical statements. Before I get into the nitty gritty of what went down in WK1, lets start things off with some blitz.

It felt like Kevin James roared the hype to get the engines started for FBS; the action was fast and furious out the gate. G-Tech stunned the Seminoles in a thrilling matchup in Ireland; Shedeur Sanders put his cape on against FCS powerhouse NDSU; plus we witnessed program powerhouses struggle in turn against weak opps. Let me get my Spagz on; time to send the blitz.

Texas Tech Survives Abilene Christian

Red Raiders had to pull out ALL the tricks to avoid a massive upset by the hands of Abilene Christian. Texas Tech got outscored 6-17 in the 4th quarter before surviving in overtime, 52-51(!). Senior leaders (RB) Tahj Brooks and (WR) Josh Kelly stepped up in huge ways alongside Behren Morton to push the Red Raiders. Brooks ran for 153 and a tuddy on the ground; Kelly punched in a score as well, exploding for 156 yards on 10 receptions in the air.

A gutting result for Abilene Christian whom went into the matchup just 1-16 against FBS squads (Troy), since moving up from NCAA D-II in 2013. They were oh-so-close to pulling off the best win in program history. Texas Tech moves to 28-1 against FCS squads. Hopefully the Red Raiders put in a good week of practice- next they travel to face John Mateer and the Cougars. They will need to be better on defense in order to slay Washington State.

Billy Napier Pours Gasoline On Hot Seat

It was a devastating day for the Gators in the swamp when the team squared off against in-state rival Miami for just the 8th time since 2000. Florida moves to 2-6 in those games after Cam Ward and the Canes dropped a statement leaving pure DESTRUCTION in Gainesville. Billy Napier's team was not ready. They were not prepared. It got bad quick, due to a lack of coaching and leadership. So bad that it didn't just create chaos in the stands and across the boosters, no no, the defeat was so bad it lit fire to their recruiting class and gave the internet a new round of memes to drop after the Miami players gloated their win:

video via @Footballville//X

That's as low as you can go; awesome stuff by Miami. Psh, the female staffer (assuming her role) gave up more fight telling the players to leave the recruits alone than Napier did coaching the Gators. To allow your team to be beat so bad at home that the other team has YOUR recruits throwing up the U and laughing upon your own failure is horrid. Then the buster goes and makes subtle shots at his fan base for being upset over losing to a bitter rival. Napier's time will likely soon come to an end- I have flipped my Napier hour-glass over.

From 10 To 0-2 in Conference Play

Gainesville isn't the only place in Florida under a set of dark clouds. It's just as bad in Tallahassee, perhaps worse considering the pre-season top-10 rank. Florida State has started the season 0-2, droppin' consecutive intra-conference games to kickstart the season. A season after the program went undefeated in the regular season prior. Mike Norvell knows how to use a ghillie suit (aka Jordan Travis). The cat is not an elite coach. So help me if I see that claim hit my desk again. It's as bad a start you can draw up for the Seminoles. I take nothin away from Georgia Tech & Boston College, but FSU has no business being 0-2.

Norvell's seat may not be as hot as Napier's, but the clouds are just as dark and thick up top. The thickness might stick when looking at the upcoming schedule for the Noles. Can Norvell get his team to bounce back over SIlverfield's Tigers? I am not confident on it. DJ Uiagalelei needs to figure his crap out and Norvell better work on discipline and execution within all three facets of his team. Seminoles are in salvage mode with CFP Playoff eligibility already lookin' bleak and likely gone in the distance.

UNC Loses QB Max Johnson For Season

North Carolina came out of WK-1 feeling extremely bittersweet. Tar Heels won a hard fought battle against Minnesota (19-17) in the Golden Gophers' backyard, but lost their starting QB Max Johnson in the 3rd quarter. Johnson has since had surgery to repair his broken right leg and will miss the remainder of the season. A gutting pill for Johnson, who envisioned this last rodeo to bring his talent back to his '21 LSU display.

The offense looked rough to start, struggling in the air and in execution. Johnson struggled in the air, but his evading, grit, and rushing attack was huge for UNC before the injury. Tar Heels now need to go back to square one under center. Conner Harrell, you're up!

We had some big time statements be dropped in WK-1. Big time dubs to create big time momentum to start the campaign. G-Tech beating Florida State in Dublin was grand. TCU topped The Cardinal on the road. Georgia smashing Clemson. All good dubs. Only two stood out to me the most, however, and it's not either one of those three.

Notre Dame & Miami stand up! Monumental wins for the two programs. Wins that have their momentum meter FULL already after just the opening games. Relax, I am not getting ahead of the two, but you bet your ass I recognize what they did in WK-1. Best two wins on the week; hands down. The Irish looked beyond sharp on the defensive. Execution was stellar to tame an enhanced Aggies O from a year ago. The defense was sharp; that I expected. The offense being sharp was the big note. A complete enhancement with Riley Leonard under center. Notre Dame's offense has the potential to be scary good. The potential to be one of the best Irish offenses we have seen in recent years. I loved what Denbrock and co. did in the opening win. Beating the Aggies in Kyle has the Irish high on my power rankings.

They sit right near the Hurricanes. What a win for Miami. Not just to start the season, and not just to rub it in the Gators fans faces around the state, but a win the program desperately needed. The excitement is back in Gables. The vibes are back. The trash talk is back. Which is oh-so-good for College Football, cha heard. Most important thing for the program? The U finally has a star under center. What a curtain call for Cam Ward in the swamp.

The most wanted QB in the portal is showing why he was a homerun transfer for Mario Cristobal and staff. Ward was stellar under pressure in the swamp. The most anticipated game of his football career- and he did his dance. Ward looks even better from his peak moments last season with Washington State. He looked the part of a true Heisman candidate & NFL prospect. Ward was a loose & relaxed playmaker against the Gators. As locked in as you will see a QB at this level. So locked in, he didn't notice the game went to halftime as he had his nose deep into a tablet watching the defense. Here is my favorite highlight of his from the UF game; cool, calm, and collected playmaker:

video via Jordan_Reid//X

Keep in mind, the Hurricanes have only had two quarterbacks be drafted to the NFL in the 21st-Century. Seeing a star at QB is new territory. If we see more of what we saw from Ward against UF, then the Canes will steamroll the ACC this season. Especially with the Hurricanes' schedule. Last time Miami beat Florida in the swamp, they went to the Natty. Huge wins for both Miami and Notre Dame. Huge-huge wins.

You have my two best wins, now time for my best player performances. Two cats made things pretty easy, puttin' up pure video game numbers under the lights: Boise State's Ashton Jeanty and Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan both had a DAY. Jeanty was as valuable as you can get as he scorched Georgia Southern for 271 all purpose yards, and SIX tuddies. Boise State was only able to win by 11 over GSU (56-45); all thanks to Jeanty, who accounted for 9 points less than GSU's total score (36). Jeanty was my top performer from the opening week, with these four right behind him:

I briefed on Ward already; the cat had an incredible opening game with the Canes accounting for 418 total yards with 3 passing touchdowns. Ward thrived on the big stage; his execution on the deep downs and in the clutch was to perfection. The moment wasn't too much for him to handle; he went and seized it- as did Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter.

I can't express how high I am on Sanders. Shedeur is made for the moment; never bows. North Dakota State isn't your typical FCS team (I think it's time they get the jump); they are arguably the best FCS program in history. So it was no surprise to see them BRING it to the Buffs. Cam Miller was on a mission for the Bison, forcing Sanders to be the same.

Shedeur rose to the occasion, against another onslaught to his pocket. Sanders was running all over the place to find the chance to get the ball to Jimmy Horn Jr. and Travis Hunter (330 combined receiving yards). His execution on throwing under distress and on the run continues to be put on display for Colorado. Shedeur finished with 445 yards in the air, with 4 passing tuddies. The lone pick was a hogwash interception; but one that's worth a watch, ha:

video via @Dubs408//X

Sanders is so damn good; his prototype is NFL ready. Imagine him in a clean pocket? Behind a solid offensive line? Room for growth is obvious, but Sanders has the it-factor. I just love his motor; his demeanor; and his pure will to be great. It's in his blood. Sanders doesn't get the win for the Buffs without Travis Hunter, though. Colorado's iron man... just two plays; two plays is ALL that Hunter missed on both offense & defense. 55 snaps on offense; 69 snaps on defense. That takes some extreme conditioning, especially when you consider his production. Hunter was as reliable, as reliable can be, with three receiving touchdowns including this unreal possession catch to ice the game:

video via @ESPN//X

It takes extreme skill to keep the composure to reel that dot in, yet alone keeping your body balance to stay upright and place the feet. The photo does the most justice:

Hunter had a special performance, yet it still wasn't the best performance by a wideout in WK-1. That honor belongs to Tetairoa McMillan. Arizona would have been upset by New Mexico if it wasn't for their star receiver. The cat dazzled for 304 yards & four touchdowns on just 10 receptions (30.4 avg). McMillan saw the receivers showing out earlier in the day and had enough of it. Big time performance that will surely only have more to follow.

The opening weeks never tell real justice in terms of what conference will thrive the most. That being due to the over scheduling of powerhouses versus FCS schools. For example, the SEC outscored it's opps a whomping 733-156 collectively, the widest margin of victory amongst the Power-4 in WK-1, but the conference went 1-3 against those ranked (13-3 overall). Everyone who raved the SEC in WK-1... what are you hyping? The elite of the SEC looked awful against good comp' in WK-1. Georgia being the only exception. Here are some conference stats from the opening week:

Peepin' in, it seems like the B1G is ready to declare supremacy over the SEC going into WK-2 followed by the Big-12 and then the ACC. The three-headed monster of Texas-Georgia-Bama keeps the SEC strong, but the B1G looks to be far deeper despite the early struggles of Oregon, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. USC beating LSU was massive. Penn State's offense already looks enhanced under Andy Kotelnicki. Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, and Nebraska are set to rise. The B1G looks to be superior. Thankfully, this weekend will help give some more clarity as we have 11 matchups between teams in a P4 conference, including two ranked matchups that are sure to bring the noise.

Should be a loud weekend on the griddy... well, I know for certain it will be. Gameday is enroute to Ann Arbor as #3 ranked Texas invades the Big House to challenge the reigning National Champs. The weekend will also headline Nico marchin' his troops to the Duke's Mayo Classic to challenge the Wolfpack; G-Tech puttin' their momentum on the line against Cuse & Kyle McCord; plus the lovely Iowa/Iowa State inner-state clash. That's just the main dish; the slate is a full feast overall. My notable marquee matchups:

That Texas/Michigan matchup is pure noise. I am also excited to see Shedeur Sanders and freshman star Dylan Raiola duke it out in 'Braska. Cornhuskers faithful should be loud and amped for that contest. Circle that one for the noise chart. Few big time sleeper matchups that have me amped: Michigan State/Maryland, G-Tech/Cuse, Baylor/Utah, and Arkansas/Oklahoma State. That last one; oh diggity lets f'n go! Taylen Green electrifying for the Razorbacks; Ollie Gordon II electrifying for the Cowboys? Put it in my veins.

A Heisman list in WK-2 is just to play the surface & to have fun to be fair. My current four I already have touched on: Sanders, Ward, Jeanty, McMillan. It's likely we don't see the bottom half on here come four weeks from now. I won't degrade their outstanding opening performances. They have a seat until it's taken from them, no doubt. I expect Sanders & Ward to stick, however. Lets see how this weekend will play out. More twists are expected. More drama is in store. More noise is imminent. The race is on; queue the Joker gif.

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