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College Football Week Five Review

This past weekend felt like the truest indicator so far of where the major teams are at this season. Five weeks in and some secured statement wins, some recovered well and some struggled in victory. Let’s take a look at some of the main talking points from yet another exciting weekend in college football.

1) Ohio State Flashes Potential on National Stage

Ohio State laid their biggest indicator of the season that this team is for real. They throttled a good Nebraska side 48-7, excelling on all phases of the ball. The offense always gets the headlines, but Justin Fields deserves praise for another stellar performance since transferring from Georgia in the summer.

15-21 for 212 yards and 3 TD’s, along with 177 rushing yards for Running Back J.K Dobbins shows how dominant they were. The defense did even better, limiting Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez to 47 yards passing and three interceptions. Now 5-0, they find themselves in the play-off places for the first time this season.

2) Clemson Battle Past North Carolina

From convincing to unconvincing wins, as top ranked Clemson came very close to a loss against a resurgent North Carolina. They didn’t look good in this game, with sophomore phenom Trevor Lawrence struggling again.

The Clemson team is an embarrassment of riches, but being a failed two-point conversion away from losing doesn’t inspire confidence. They’ve dropped to second in the AP Top 25 poll, and will need to regroup quickly as the pressure mounts.

North Carolina gave Clemson an almighty scare, falling short 21-20 to a more talented Clemson side. Their response will show their character going forward. Photo: Chris Seward/AP.

3) Notre Dame Put Georgia Loss Behind Them

Notre Dame recovered from a tough loss to Georgia with the perfect rebuttal in this potential banana skin. Virginia came into this game full of confidence, but Notre Dame proved too strong and deserved their 35-20 victory.

Notre Dame relied on Running Back Tony Jones Jr on offense, with 131 rushing yards and 3 TD’s proving vital. On the defensive side of the ball, Defensive End Julian Okwara had a career day with three of the teams eight sacks, as well as forcing a fumble in one of their five turnovers. The defense played lights out and deserves national recognition for this performance.

4) Washington Back in Pac-12 Mix

Washington have recovered well from a tough early season loss to California, swatting aside USC 28-14 to regain ground in the Pac-12. Salvon Ahmed had a big day at Running Back, with 153 yards and touchdown in a vital win.

This win jumps them back up to second in the Pac-12 North. Whilst any faint dreams of a national title chance are long gone, they find themselves 15th in the AP Polls. If they can win out from here on out they will have earned a top ten berth and a prominent bowl game.

5) Penn State Shutout Maryland

Penn State responded perfectly to their first challenge this season, mauling a high-powered Maryland offense. The defense stood out in this game, keeping a previously top ranked scoring offense to zero points. A previously unstoppable Maryland team couldn’t get anything going at all, holding Quarterback Josh Jackson to 65 passing yards and two interceptions.

For Penn State their offense had no problem scoring points, with sophomore Quarterback Sean Clifford going off with over 450 combined yards and four touchdowns in this rout. This is a big win for Penn State and they have kept themselves in the hunt.

Penn State Running Back Ricky Slade celebrates his touchdown in this 59-0 rout of Maryland on their own turf. Photo: Geoff Burke/USA Today Sport.

6) Other Key Results This Week

After such a disappointing loss last weekend Michigan responded in the perfect manner, dismantling a poor Rutgers team. Much criticised Quarterback Shea Patterson responded with three passing touchdowns and a rushing TD in a 52-0 rout. The only negative for the Wolverines was their running game struggling again.

Arizona State beat 15th ranked California 24-17, which is a pivotal win for them after a slow start to their Pac-12 season. They are on the outside looking in right now, but this is a massive win and will give them confidence going forward.

7) Stand Out Week Five Performers

For the standout performer we can’t overlook Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith. The third head of their receiving core behind Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs went off against Ole Miss, with 274 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

Another receiver who impressed is Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, who showed an incredible turn and burst of speed on a 71 yard touchdown against Texas Tech, ending up with 185 yards and three touchdowns. He’s a first round prospect in a loaded wide receiver class this year.

8) Heisman Contenders Update

Now we’re well into the season, the key contenders for the 2019 Heisman Trophy are emerging. Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa is having a monster season, currently second in the nation with over 1700 yards in only five games. He’s also protecting the football, with 23 touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Of the rest Joe Burrow is the outside bet, having surprised everyone with the impressive start he’s had. Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts has played lights out this season, going for over 1200 yards passing and over 440 yards rushing in four games. Tua remains the favourite, but there’s plenty of contenders keeping him honest.

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Tua Tagovailoa is living a charmed life this year. He’s the current Heisman favourite and is many draft experts pick for the first overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. Photo: Joe Robbins/Getty Images.

9) AP Top 25 Rankings

The latest rankings going into week six have been released, with the mild surprise that Alabama have overtaken Clemson for the top spot. It’s an understandable move after their performances last weekend. After their impressive win Ohio State jumped LSU for fourth and the final play-off place.

Further down, Notre Dame are the only other team to move in the top ten, vaulting Florida for ninth. Washington improve two places to 15th, with Utah, UCF and Michigan all moving up to 17th,18th and 19th respectively. California, USC and Kansas State are the big losers, all dropping out of the rankings this week.

10) First Coaching Casualty of the Year

Rutgers head coach Chris Ash was the first casualty of the 2019 season. After his teams 52-0 demolition against Michigan he was shown the door after three years in charge. His 8-32 record is poor, along with a 3-26 record in the Big Ten conference. Offensive coordinator John McNulty has also been fired after their 1-3 start.

Tight Ends coach Nunzio Campanile will take the interim head coach job for the season. Ash had previously been defensive coordinator for the 2014 national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. Early favourites to replace him include Greg Schiano, Mike Elko and Jeff Monken.

That wraps up the main talking points from another week of college football, if you have any thoughts on this points feel free to comment below or find me on Twitter @JWjournalism. Finally, a big thank you to everyone who read this blog I really appreciate it!

College Football Week Five Preview

After four weeks we look to have an established order at the top of the college football world, with Clemson and Alabama at the top and the rest snapping at their heels. Week five doesn’t have the prominent matchup’s from last weekend, but there is plenty of intrigue in this weeks slate of games. Let’s preview the main talking points for the weekend ahead.

1) Notre Dame – Virginia Preview

Notre Dame aim to fight back this weekend against a good Virginia team in what will be another tough game for them. They can take a lot of positives from last weekend as they matched up well with third ranked Georgia.

Virginia on the other hand roll into Notre Dame stadium 4-0 and leading the ACC Coastal conference. They did struggle last weekend to beat lowly Old Dominion, but have otherwise impressed this season. Their defense is a top 15 unit, led by star Cornerback Bryce Hall. The tenth ranked Fighting Irish barely have a top 50 offense, so this game should be closer than many expect.

2) Bryce Hall Key to Virginia Hopes

Virginia are living up to the pre-season hype as an unlikely ACC Coastal champs, and much of that is because of their defense. Their unit ranks 14th in the country through four games, keeping opposing teams to 263 yards per game.

Their key component is Cornerback Bryce Hall, a senior many NFL scouts are high on. Many predict he will be a late first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, he’s that highly rated. For this game Hall will be focused on Notre Dame’s leading receiver Chase Claypool, in what will be a key matchup in this game.

Bryce Hall has been a consistent high point in the Virginia defense. He’s projected as a first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Photo: Ryan Kelly/Getty Images.

3) USC – Washington Preview

Another top 25 matchup is this all Pac-12 affair between 21st ranked USC and 17th ranked Washington. Both sides have flashed potential this season, but have also been inconsistent. They both enter at 3-1, looking for a statement Pac-12 win.

Washington need to win to remain in contention for the Pac-12 North, having already lost to California. Transfer QB Jacob Eason has impressed, already throwing for over 1000 yards in four games. USC meanwhile have suffered from injury problems to key positions, none more so than at the Quarterback. They enter this game with third-string QB Matt Fink.

4) Matt Fink – Michael Pittman Jr Connection Key for USC

USC will travel into Washington as slight underdogs, and the key for them will be the connection between QB Matt Fink and receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Fink made his debut last week in an upset win against Utah, impressing with 350 yards and 3 TD’s.

He immediately made a connection with senior Pittman Jr, who went off for 232 yards and a touchdown. Utah has a good defense so to shred them like this was impressive. Washington has a pretty good defense, and in a key road game they need Fink to find Pittman often.

5) Penn State – Maryland Preview

Opening the college football weekend is this intriguing Friday night matchup between Penn State and Maryland. Penn State travel to Maryland 3-0 and ranked 12th in the nation, but face a tough matchup against the Terrapins.

Maryland had broken into the top 25 before being upset by Temple, and will have used their bye week to regroup and refocus for this game. This will be intriguing as Penn State goes in as favourites with a good defense, but Maryland has a top ten offense that has 21 TD’s in only three games.

Penn State’s Micah Parsons leads this Penn State defense, tasked with stopping a prolific Maryland offense this weekend. Photo: John Stinely.

6) First Real Test for Penn State

Penn State has opened the year strongly, however they have yet to be seriously tested. They walked over Idaho and Buffalo, and struggled against a plucky Pitt team. We will learn a lot about this Penn State team here.

Their defense, led by Linebacker Micah Parsons have limited opponents to 30 combined points from three games, but face a tough test stopping this Maryland offense. If they can do this they have a good chance of winning . It’s hard to gauge where their offense is with the opponents they’ve played, so this will be another interesting matchup.

7) Other Games to Watch Out for

Aside from the games mentioned above, there is plenty of games for college football fans to feast on this weekend. The College Gameday crew head to Lincoln, Nebraska for an exciting matchup between Ohio State and Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have put up 152 points in four games, but face fifth ranked Ohio State and their incredible defense, led by potential number one NFL Draft pick Chase Young.

Seventh ranked Auburn face Mississippi State, hoping to avoid slipping up after a massive win last weekend against Texas A&M. If they carry over their early season form they will be contending for the SEC Championship game and a shot at the College Football Play-Off.

8) ‘Fair Pay to Play’ Act Causing Trouble

The proposed ‘Fair Pay to Play’ Act has created plenty of headlines since it was announced several weeks ago. The California bill would allow athletes to profit from the use of their name,likeness and image without facing NCAA penalty.

The bill has been supported by the likes of LeBron James and Bernie Sanders, but the NCAA and California universities are opposed to it. The NCAA have already threatened that 20 California schools would be ineligible for it’s competition if this comes to fruition. This is a seismic moment for players and is the strongest challenge to NCAA rules to date.

NCAA Mark Emmert has spoken out against the proposed ‘Pay to Play’ Act, in what could prove the biggest challenge to the NCAA in decades. Photo: Maxx Wolfson/Getty Images.

9) Tua Tagovailoa Almost Became A USC Trojan

Star Alabama Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made headlines this week by announcing on the Dan Patrick radio show that he almost transferred to USC in 2017. Tagovailoa was a true freshman at the time behind Jalen Hurts, before becoming the hero by replacing Hurts and winning the National Championship for Alabama.

Tagovailoa said he wanted to transfer so that his parents could see him play and USC was his childhood team. Tua will likely be the first Quarterback taken in the 2020 NFL Draft, although many USC fans will now wonder what if, especially with their spate of QB injuries currently.

10) D’Eriq King to Stay at Houston After All

The most dramatic story of this week was the news on Monday that Houston QB D’Eriq King was redshirting this year and transferring, only for him to come out hours later and deny this story from his dad. King and star receiver Keith Corbin will redshirt, but aim to return to Houston next year.

This is a story that divides opinion, with some questioning if both won’t still transfer at the end of the year. Houston will struggle this year without them, but if they do return next year they will be looking to take the step up to the NFL.

That wraps up this preview of the week five college football slate, if you have any questions about these talking points feel free to comment below or find me on Twitter @JWjournalism. Finally, a massive thank you to everyone who read this article I really appreciate it!

College Football Week Four Review

Week four of the college football season had plenty of big time games and provided some upsets also. These two reasons are a big contributing factor in why we love the college game, so let’s take a look at the main talking points from a riveting weekend of football.

1) Georgia Get Crucial Win Against Notre Dame

The marquee game of the weekend didn’t disappoint, with Georgia overcoming a very good Notre Dame side. The Fighting Irish tested Georgia on their home turf, and can take positives from a tough loss.

Georgia QB Jake Fromm was solid on the day, with D’Andre Swift good once again with 98 rushing yards and a touchdown. The defense for Georgia was key, forcing two turnovers and holding Notre Dame’s leading rusher to 21 yards. This was a statement win for Georgia and it’s play-off hopes, but Notre Dame ran them close and showed they are a very good side too.

2) Wisconsin Handle Poor Michigan Team

The top 15 matchup between Wisconsin and Michigan ended up being a convincing win for a good Wisconsin side. Star player Jonathan Taylor stepped up with 203 rushing yards and two touchdowns, showing his NFL potential on the national stage once again.

Michigan have been unconvincing in victories going into this game, and against better opposition they were punished for their mistakes. The passing game was solid if unspectacular, with the rushing game failing to get going all day. Wisconsin have jumped into the top ten now, with Michigan falling down to 20th.

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Jonathan Taylor running in for one of two TD’s in a convincing Wisconsin win against a poor Michigan team. Surely NFL stardom beckons next for Taylor. Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images.

3) Jonathan Taylor Goes Off

Wisconsin running back has been a household name in college football for two years now, with yet another massive performance last weekend against good opposition. The junior is on pace to challenge the all-time leading rusher in college football, Ron Dayne with 7,125 yards.

After a 2,194 yard season last year, he’s started slow by his standards with 237 yards in their opening two games. Last weekend he almost doubled that with 203 yards against a respectable Michigan team. It’s likely Taylor will declare for the 2020 NFL Draft, but this could be the springboard for another massive season at Wisconsin.

4) Auburn Win Big Against Texas A&M

Auburn have emerged as a dark horse for the College Football play-off after two statement wins in their opening four games. They went into College Station to face Texas A&M and handled them 28-20 in a massive win for the team.

They proved their comeback win against Oregon wasn’t a lucky win, only allowing Texas A&M to score three points until a 17-point fourth quarter resurgence. True freshman Bo Nix was solid for the Tigers, and gains yet more valuable experience with this win. Texas A&M drop to 23rd with their 2-2 record, with Auburn rising to seventh.

5) Joe Burrow Goes Off in LSU Rout

LSU were always expected to beat an 0-3 Vanderbilt team, but the way they dismantled them with have their fans feeling good about the season ahead. QB Joe Burrow added to his rising hype with another masterful performance, this time against limited competition.

25-34 for 398 yards and 6 TD’s is video game numbers, as LSU routed them 66-38. Burrow has emerged this season and has led LSU into the play-off places, whilst also redefining him as a future NFL Draft prospect, both of which was not expected going into the season. He might also be a dark horse for the 2019 Heisman Trophy too.

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LSU QB Joe Burrow barely needed to break sweat in a convincing win against Vanderbilt. He’s started off strongly and is quickly emerging as a top QB in college football. Photo: Associated Press.

6) UCF Dreams Shattered by Pitt

The ultimate underdog team in college football was the UCF Knights, but their dreams of finally being nationally recognised were badly damaged with this loss to a tough Pitt team. After last weekends big win against Stanford, UCF struggled in this 35-34 slug fest.

Pitt are a well coached football team, and it appears that after such a statement win UCF struggled with this tough following fixture. The loss drops them to 22nd in the AP rankings, and it will be tough for them to regain ground because of their conference schedule.

7) Wild Pac-12 Shootout in Washington

Many college football fans struggle to watch Pac-12 games because of their awkward timings for most of the country, but the fans who tuned in for this game got a treat. UCLA got an important 67-63 win against Washington State. Yes, that scoreline is correct.

Both QB’s threw for over 500 yards, with Washington State QB Anthony Gordon throwing 9 TD’s. This was a vital win for UCLA and Chip Kelly, who have struggled massively to start the season. This loss has cost Washington State a AP Top 25 berth, something they may struggle to regain this season.

8) Houston QB D’Eriq King to Transfer

Houston QB D’Eriq King has announced he is sitting out the rest of this season and intends to transfer from Houston. The new redshirt rule means although he has played in all four games this season, he can use this year to redshirt and save a year of eligibility.

This is likely to be a big talking point in college football, as this appears the first example of a player choosing to sit out and transfer for his best interests. Some will see it as a savvy move and a chance to transfer to a more established program, with some likely to see it as him being selfish and quitting on his team.

Houston QB D’Eriq King has made headlines with his plans to sit out and transfer next year, this is likely to be a major talking point for the game this season. Photo: Godofredo Vasquez/Houston Chronicle.

9) Biggest Week Four Performances

Aside from those already mentioned, there were some standout performances from week four of the college football season. LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase stood out with 229 yards and 4 TD’s in their rout of Vanderbilt. He’s quickly developed in Burrow’s favourite target, and the sophomore is sure to be garnering NFL attention with his performances.

The two QB’s in the UCLA – Washington State matchup deserve some attention, with UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson recovering from a poor start to the year with 507 yards and 7 TD’s in their win. Washington State QB Anthony Gordon going for 570 yards and 9 TD’s is insane numbers.

10) College Football Week Five AP Top 25 Poll

The newest AP Top 25 rankings have been released, with very few changes at the top. The top four remain the same, with the biggest change being Ohio State jumping Oklahoma because of their bye week for fifth. Auburn jumped to seventh, with Wisconsin breaking the top ten in eighth.

Notre Dame dropped to tenth with their loss, with Utah and Michigan the biggest losers, each dropping nine places to 19th and 20th respectively. After beating Utah USC are now 21st, with Washington State (19th), Arizona State (24th) and TCU (25th) dropping out this week.

That wraps up my recap of the fourth week of the season, if you have any thoughts on these talking points let me know in the comments section below or find me on Twitter @JWjournalism. Finally, a massive thank you to everyone who read this article I really appreciate it!

College Football Week Four Preview

This weekend of college football will provide plenty of answers for teams and fans, with a multitude of marquee games as we begin to see who is the real deal and who is faking it. Let’s take a look at the main talking points for this weekend’s slate of games.

1) Georgia – Notre Dame Preview

This top ten matchup is the biggest game of the weekend. Third ranked Georgia face seventh ranked Notre Dame in Athens. The last matchup was a close 20-19 win in 2017, and was Jake Fromm’s coming out party. Two years down the line and both sides have have eyes on the play-off.

Fromm, now a junior, is a top level quarterback at this level, and with support from the likes of running back D’Andre Swift has plenty of weapons. Notre Dame QB Ian Book has started the season hot, and his dual-threat ability makes him dangerous to this Georgia defense.

2) Battle of Jake Fromm and Ian Book

Quarterback is the most important position in the sport, so a big factor in deciding this game will be the play of the two signal callers. Fromm has the higher profile, having led Georgia to the national championship game as a freshman. He has since developed into a future first round NFL Draft pick.

Ian Book isn’t talked about as much by the media, but has quietly developed into a very good QB for the Fighting Irish. Like I mentioned above, the senior QB has started hot this season, with 553 yards and 6 TD’s to 0 INT’s in his opening three games.

Jake Fromm was only a true freshman in his first start the last time Notre Dame played Georgia. Now they face off with play-off ambitions for both. Photo: Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire.

3) Michigan – Wisconsin Preview

Another massive game this weekend is this Michigan and Wisconsin matchup. Both sides are ranked just outside the top ten at 11th and 13th respectively, with a win providing a big step into the top ten.

Both sides are 2-0, but Wisconsin has looked more convincing against limited competition. Having home field advantage only enhances their tag as slight favourites. Running back Jonathan Taylor is a stud who will give Michigan problems, with the return of their best lineman Jon Runyan likely to enhance Michigan’s offensive play.

4) Can Jim Harbaugh Get His Statement Win?

The pressure is mounting on head coach Jim Harbaugh after his side have started the season slowly. Allowing Middle Tennessee to score 21 at home and escaping Army in overtime doesn’t bode well going into a tough Wisconsin matchup. He has a good recent record against them, but this could be their best opportunity for revenge.

He hasn’t been helped by injuries to key players like left tackle Jon Runyan and receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones, but they have enough talent to be a top ten side. Quarterback Shea Patterson has struggled, with the running game solid but not spectacular.

5) Auburn – Texas A&M Preview

The big games just keep coming this weekend, with a massive matchup for these historic programs. Eighth ranked Auburn travel to College Station to face the 17th ranked Aggies. Auburn already have a statement win this year against Oregon, but this game could make or break Texas A&M’s season.

Led by true freshman Bo Nix, Auburn surprised some by beating Oregon opening weekend, however this is another massive test. Texas A&M have already lost to Clemson, with another defeat here will take them out of contention for major honours.

Bo Nix led Auburn to a comeback win in his debut for the Tigers. As to be expected with a true freshman, he’s struggled slightly with the adaptation to top level college football. Photo: Ron Jenkins/AP Photo.

6) Will Bo Nix Show up Big Again?

Bo Nix responded to immense pressure with a clutch comeback win against a good Oregon side in his debut, with this another massive test. Starting a true freshman on the road in a tough environment in College Station is always tricky, with the stats giving little confidence either

Nix is 83rd in the nation for passing yards, and his leading receiver after three games is Eli Stove with 133 yards. The offense has leaned on running back JaTarvious Whitlow, as they try to help Nix as much as possible. Nix will need to step up if they want to win this game.

7) Other Games to Look Out For

Below these top level games there are plenty amongst the slate that will pique fans interest. Tenth ranked Utah open the weekend with a trip to California to face a wounded USC team. Utah have looked good so far but USC will look to rebound from their OT loss to BYU last weekend.

Speaking of them, BYU hosts 22nd ranked Washington. Both sides already have one loss and another this early in the year could really pull the pin on their seasons. 3-0 Oklahoma State travel to Texas to face the 12th ranked Longhorns. This could be a banana skin for Texas.

8) Names to Look Out For

All three games have star players with NFL potential, starting with Utah RB Zack Moss. He isn’t known nationally, but has developed into a very good player with mid-round NFL potential. 373 yards in three games shows the good start he’s had.

For BYU and Washington it’s hard to look past Washington QB Jacob Eason. The Georgia transfer has plenty of hype and has so far delivered. Seven TD’s to one interception and is averaging just under 300 yards a game. Another QB to look out for is Texas Sam Ehlinger, who has impressed despite a tough loss to LSU. His stats are incredible and is cementing himself as an NFL prospect.

Utah Running Back Zack Moss has quietly built into a very good back with tremendous NFL potential. He’s leading Utah to a top ten ranking. Photo: NCAA.

9) Wider Play-Off Implications for This Week

The weekend ahead will have wider reaching consequences for the College Football Play-Off. Starting with the Georgia and Notre Dame game, if the Fighting Irish win they could vault into the top four. Their toughest remaining matchup’s would be against Virginia and Michigan, two games they would go into as favourites.

If Auburn beat Texas A&M, that would be two wins against ranked sides and would surely push them to the cusp of the play-off. Whoever wins in the Michigan – Wisconsin game will likely jump into the top ten, and another Utah win will see them rise also.

10) Players to Watch

We’ve already mentioned some key players to focus on this weekend, but here are some of the pivotal players for the leading matchup’s. We’ve mentioned Jake Fromm, but the Georgia offense is led by RB D’Andre Swift, who is averaging a massive 9.4 yards for the season.

For Notre Dame this could be a Chase Claypool coming out party, the receiver leads the team with 190 yards in two games.Jonathan Taylor will be a focal point for Wisconsin, while Michigan running back Zach Charbonnet will be glad to have left tackle Jon Runyan back to help the freshman.

That wraps up this preview for what will be an exciting week of college football. If you have any comments on the talking points I’ve mentioned, let me know in the comments section or find me on Twitter @JWjournalism. Finally, a massive thank you to everyone who read this article I really appreciate it!

College Football Week Three Review

Week three had very few marquee games scheduled, but still provided plenty of shock and intrigue as college football inevitably does. For the top ranked sides it was plain sailing, however for some lower down the AP Top 25 rankings there was plenty of drama. Let’s look back at some of the main talking points from the past weekend.

1) Georgia dominate Arkansas State

This headline is not shocking at all, but the Bulldogs are flying slightly under the radar this season. So far plenty of people are talking about Clemson and Alabama, but Georgia has looked convincing in every win.

The third ranked side are stacked with NFL talent led by Running Back D’Andre Swift, currently fourth in the nation for yards per attempt at 9.4. Quarterback Jake Fromm leads this team and will likely go in the first round of next years NFL Draft if he declares. They will face their first test this weekend with a matchup with seventh ranked Notre Dame.

2) Alabama Cruise Past South Carolina

Alabama beating South Carolina doesn’t usually create headlines, however their manner of victory will have the rest of the country on notice. It appears they have used last years defeat to Clemson to come back much stronger this year.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a career day going 28-36 for 444 yards and five touchdowns, both records for the junior. They have three of the best receivers in the nation in Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith and always have a stacked defense. Clemson still have questions surrounding them, unlike the Crimson Tide.

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Tua Tagovailoa set career highs for passing yards and touchdowns in their beat down of South Carolina. Alabama have clearly improved since last season already. Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images.

3) Clemson Win but Questions Remain

Clemson clobbered Syracuse 41-6 in what some had previously said could be a difficult matchup for the Tigers. Despite the convincing win, some are still questioning QB Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence has thrown five interceptions in three games, tied for second in the nation amongst all college quarterbacks. This is also one more than he threw all of last season. He’s already been anointed the chosen one, but we forget he’s still only a 19 year-old kid. Talk of being the first pick in the NFL Draft can wait, for now we need to let him develop as a player and person first.

4) UCF Stun Stanford, Shock the Nation

The University of Central Florida is not a powerhouse college football program, but they have everyone’s attention after this past weekend. They mauled Stanford 45-27 in a statement win for this program.

UCF had gone 25 straight games unbeaten before this season, but was never respected by the play-off voters because of their American Athletic Conference. A convincing win like this against a previously ranked Stanford side is massive for this team and has already seen them rise to 15th in the AP Top 25. If they go unbeaten they could rise into the top ten.

5) Iowa Win Crazy Cy-Hawk Game

The matchup of the weekend was this annual Cy-Hawk trophy game between Iowa and Iowa State, with the Hawkeyes coming out on top in a close encounter. The game was weather delayed twice and went on for over six hours.

Iowa State started strongly and fans began to dream of reclaiming the Cy-Hawk trophy after four years of Iowa wins, but their own mistakes cost them late in the game. With one minute to go they were set to get the ball back, but fumbled the return in bizarre circumstances, handing Iowa a narrow 18-17 win in Ames.

Iowa players lift the Cy-Hawk trophy after a very close 18-17 win against rivals Iowa State in Ames. This is their fifth successive win in this matchup. Photo: Shivansh Ahuja/The Daily Iowan.

6) Upsets From Week Three

Week three saw some of the lower ranked top 25 sides fall in dramatic fashion. Arizona State shocked 18th ranked Michigan State 10-7, going ahead with 50 seconds left. Michigan State missed a game tying 47 yarder, having seconds before made a 42- yard kick, only for a penalty to negate it.

21st ranked Maryland were upset by Temple 20-17, only a week after shocking Syracuse to vault into the AP Top 25 rankings. 24th ranked USC fell in overtime to BYU 30-27, a loss that piles the pressure on head coach Clay Helton.

7) Feleipe Franks Likely Finished for Season

Florida QB Feleipe Franks is likely out for the season after breaking and dislocating his ankle in last weekends close win against Kentucky. The junior had looked good in the opening two games and was set for a big season for the Gators.

Whilst it hasn’t been officially confirmed he’s out, head coach Dan Mullen alluded to this during his post-game press conference. From here Franks may apply for a medical redshirt to preserve this seasons eligibility, or may choose to rehab and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft.

8) Top Running Backs Through Week Three

Now that week three has past we’re beginning to see a good sample size to evaluate some of the top Running Backs this season. Leading the nation is Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard with 521 yards and seven touchdowns through three games. He wasn’t a highly rated player heading into the season, but could declare for the Draft next year if he continues on this form.

Of the more recognisable names it’s Ohio State’s J.K Dobbins and Florida State’s Cam Akers leading the way, with 425 and 387 yards respectively. The big surprise is Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts joint sixth with 373 rushing yards.

Oklahoma State’s Chuba Hubbard leads the nation in rushing yards after three games. He wasn’t well known before the season, but could be a NFL Draft sleeper should he declare. Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer/ AP Photo.

9) Top Wide Receivers Through Week Three

Much like with the Running Backs, we can begin to evaluate the early standout Wide Receivers from the first three weeks of the college football season. Oklahoma State junior Tylan Wallace leads with 390 yards and six touchdowns. Wallace was a draft sleeper heading into the year, but will already be climbing 2020 draft boards.

Of those leading the way going into the season, it’s Clemson’s Tee Higgins and Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy who have impressed the most. They have 318 1 TD and 308 4 TD’s respectively. Both will be early first round picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.

10) Week Three AP Top 25

The week three AP Top 25 rankings have been released, and to nobodies surprise the play-off places haven’t changed at all this week after convincing wins by all four sides. Utah is the only move in the top ten, jumping Michigan for tenth, after Michigan had a bye week.

UCF has risen two places after destroying Stanford to 15th, with Virginia rising to 21st after their 31-24 win over Florida State. California, Arizona State and TCU all debut in the top 25 polls, replacing Michigan State, USC and Maryland.

That wraps up this look back at ten of the talking points from the past weekend of college football. If you have any thoughts about these points feel free to comment below or find me on Twitter @JWjournalism. Finally, a big thank you to anyone who read this article I really appreciate it!

College Football Week Three Preview

The weeks are ticking by as the college football season gears up for the third weekend of action. So far there has been little movement in the play-off places, aside from surprise package LSU starting strong and pushing itself into contention. This weekend doesn’t have the all-star matchup’s of last weekend, but there is an important rivalry game and some great low key interesting games.

1) Iowa – Iowa State Preview

This rivalry going underplayed on the national scale, but it’s real and deserves the recognition it’s getting this weekend. The College Gameday crew are visiting Ames for the first time.

This matchup is tough to predict, much like most rivalry games. Iowa is nationally ranked and matches up well talent wise, led by potential top five pick edge rusher A.J Espinosa. On the other hand, Iowa State is at home and is coming off an impressive 8-5 season last year. Iowa State started slow this season, but I think they edge this close game.

2) Washington State – Houston Preview

This is a game most would overlook as both teams are not powerhouse programs, but this will be a very interesting game. Washington State comes into this game ranked 20th, but they have yet to be tested this season.

This Houston side will be a stern test for the Cougars. The game is being played in Houston, and this team is led by quarterback D’Eriq King, one of the most exciting players in college football. Houston almost scared Oklahoma opening weekend and both sides will put up points in this game.

Iowa players lift the Cy-Hawk trophy after their close win over Iowa State last year. Who wins it this year? Photo: Thorn Compton/TimesRepublican.

3) Virginia – Florida State Preview

This is also a game many would pass up, but for ACC fans this game will have long running implications throughout the season. Virginia are riding the crest of a wave, having been nationally ranked the past two seasons, for the first time since 2004-05.

Things couldn’t be more different at Florida State, a storied program that has started badly this season. Losing the home opener to Boise State brought back memories of last season, and scraping past ULM 45-44 asked more questions then answers. Virginia needs to beat Florida State to take control of the ACC Coastal Conference.

4) Under the Radar Games

Week three specialises in these under the radar games like the ones mentioned above, with yet more hidden away. Stanford travel to Orlando to take on the UCF Knights, a key game for both sides. Stanford wants to bounce back from last weekend’s loss to USC, and UCF wants to prove itself against major competition after being overlooked in recent seasons.

Elsewhere, Arizona State travels cross-country to East Lansing, to take on 18th ranked Michigan State. Michigan goes in as favourite and they should get the home win. Ninth ranked Florida takes on a Kentucky side reeling from the loss of QB Terry Wilson.

5) Stanford OL Walker Little Out for Year

Stanford offensive lineman Walker Little is having season ending knee surgery, which is a big loss for the Cardinal. He was their best lineman and the junior was expected to be a first round draft pick if he declared next year.

His loss is massive for a team trying to bounce back after losing to USC last weekend. It’s unclear at the moment whether he will stay in school or simply leave the program to focus on his rehab for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Stanford lineman Walker Little went down in the opening game, and is now out for the season. This is likely the last time he will play for Stanford. Photo: Tony Avelar/AP Photo.

6) Injuries to More Future NFL Draft Picks

Whilst these players are not household names nationally, their injuries have implications for the 2020 NFL Draft. Senior Purdue linebacker Markus Bailey is undergoing season ending knee surgery, and will most likely declare for the draft. He is a promising player that could have been a day two pick, but this is unclear now with this injury.

South Carolina QB Jake Bentley is a more recognisable name, but has struggled to improve his draft stock after early college hype. He is out for the year with a foot injury, and he may apply for a medical redshirt to come back for one more year and try to improve his diminishing draft stock.

7) Latest Heisman Rankings

As of week three there are a number of contenders for the 2019 Heisman Trophy, with a new front runner seemingly every week. After his remarkable debut at Oklahoma it was Jalen Hurts out front, now it seems after week two Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa leads the standings.

He played more snaps last weekend compared to Hurts, with both having the chance to boost their numbers as they face poor South Carolina and UCLA sides respectively. An outside emerging bet is LSU’s Joe Burrow, who just like Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray before him is shooting up Heisman boards with his impressive start to the season.

8) Clay Helton on Hot Seat at USC

This will seem a weird headline to write after USC upset 23rd ranked Stanford last weekend, but he has this week lost a key ally within USC. Athletic Director Lynn Swann resigned earlier this week, removing a big supporter of head coach Clay Helton.

Many called for Helton to be fired after a disastrous 5-7 season last year, yet Swann was a keen supporter of Helton. Now that he has resigned, the athletic department will likely go in a different direction if they struggle again this year. They have a very difficult schedule, and starting QB J.T Daniels is out for the year also.

USC coach Clay Helton is on the hot seat now that AD Lynn Swann, left, has resigned from his position. 2019 may be a tough year for Helton. Photo: The Big Lead.

9) California Passes Law Allowing College Athletes to Get Paid

This is a story more for the future than the here and now, but this is a big step in the right direction for college players to get some compensation. This law would allow student-athletes at California college campuses to earn money from their likeness.

This has been a major talking point in college sports which divides opinion, with the NCAA likely to do everything in their power to stop this. They have already mentioned that if this becomes law in 2023 as currently scheduled all California universities would be removed from NCAA competitions. This is certainly not the last we will hear on this matter.

10) Top Players Entering Transfer Portal

The transfer portal has increasingly become a key component of college football in recent seasons, and this week two more talented young players have entered their names into it.

2019 five star defensive end Antonio Alfano has entered his name, after running into issues at Alabama surrounding missing school to be with a relative as they deal with a medical condition. He may stay at Alabama, but will have a lot of schools contacting him for sure. Four star USC wide receiver Devon Williams also entered his name this week, seemingly unhappy with a lack of playing time at the school. He would be another big addition to any program in the country.

That wraps up my preview for the upcoming weekend of college football, let me know if you have any thoughts on this piece let me know either in the comments section below or find me on Twitter @JWjournalism. Finally, a big thank you for anyone who read this article I really appreciate it!

College Football Week Two Roundup

The college football season is now truly underway, with some brilliant matchup’s this past weekend that remind us all why we love the game. There were not any major upsets, but the games were entertaining from start to finish as the top ranked teams asserted their dominance. Let’s take a look at ten talking points from this past weekend.

1) LSU Win Big

LSU were the big winners of week two, knocking off a top ten Texas side in their house 45-38. The game of the weekend lived up to expectations, and now LSU fans are dreaming of the college football play-off.

QB Joe Burrow had a monster 471 yards and 4 TD’s, with receiver Justin Jefferson getting three of them along with 163 total yards. LSU have often struggled at the QB position, but now they have a stud in Burrow. They have NFL talent on both sides of the ball, and can legitimately think of the top four now.

2) Texas Have Plenty to Play for

Texas will feel disappointed they could get a statement win at home, however they still have plenty to play for this season. It’s been a difficult decade for this storied program, but they now have a team with legitimate top ten hopes.

Boyhood fan Sam Ehlinger had a monster game 401 yards and 4 TD’s along with 60 rushing yards, leading the team. Texas were in this game until the very end against the best LSU side in years. They dropped to 12th in the AP Top 25 poll, but they can easily get back into the top ten.

LSU QB Joe Burrow is the answer their fans have been waiting years for. He has led them to a play-off spot in a flying start to their season. Photo: AP/Michael Democker.

3) Clemson Overcome Texas A&M

Clemson passed the test with a convincing 24-10 victory over a resurgent Texas A&M team. The final score doesn’t accurately reflect that Clemson flat out played better than Texas A&M throughout.

QB Trevor Lawrence rebounded from a patchy opening game with some beautiful throws, notably his TD. He added a rushing score also, and with how talented this Clemson team is he needs only to play sensibly and execute for them to have a good chance of victory. Texas A&M looked second best, but there’s no shame in that when you play Clemson.

4) Big Upsets in Week Two

Part of the fun of college football Saturday’s is checking out whose on upset alert, and there was some big results this past weekend. Maryland was the pick of the bunch, dismantling 22nd ranked Syracuse 63-20. This was a massive win that puts the program 22nd in the AP polls, the first time they’ve been ranked since 2013.

Other notable upsets were 23rd ranked Stanford getting rolled over by USC 45-20, an especially impressive result when considered USC lost it’s starting QB J.T Daniels for the season in week one. 25th ranked Nebraska also fell on a missed FG against Colorado 34-31.

5) Michigan Survive Close Call

The Michigan revival under Jim Harbaugh hasn’t quite gone to plan so far. His return to Ann Arbor was supposed to bring the glory years back but so far it hasn’t quite worked out. Only once have they finished in the top ten and they haven’t finished better than 10-3 under him.

So far this season they have looked less than convincing. They gave up 21 points in a 40-21 win over Middle Tennessee, and this past weekend needed double overtime to beat Army 24-21. Army played an incredible game in the Big House, however no disrespect to Army, but they shouldn’t be scaring Michigan this much in their stadium.

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Michigan players celebrate a double overtime scare against Army. They will need to improve before they face tougher competition. Photo: David Guralnick/Detroit News.

6) Heisman Week Two Report

After a scintillating week one, it was a quieter weekend for some of the key players in the early Heisman Trophy race. Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts saw limited action in a 70-14 demolishing of South Dakota, going 14-18 for 259 yards and 3 TD’s, along with 47 rushing yards.

Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa was similarly dominant in their 62-10 win over New Mexico State, going 16-24 for 227 yards and 3 TD’s, with 33 rushing yards also. After falling behind in the opening week, Trevor Lawrence of Clemson reasserted himself in the Heisman race with his win over Texas A&M.

7) AP Top 25 Rankings

After a fairly predictable opening week, week two saw some movement in the AP Top 25 polls. The biggest move is LSU claiming the final play-off place in fourth, displacing Oklahoma and Ohio State after their statement win against Texas.

Michigan dropped from seventh to tenth after two uninspiring wins against Middle Tennessee and Army, vaulting Auburn and Florida to eighth and ninth respectively. Texas dropped from ninth to 12th, along with rivals Texas A&M who fell from 12th to 16th after losses last weekend. Washington fell from 14th to 23rd after a 20-19 upset loss against California.

8) True Freshman Impressing

The 2019 season has already seen some true freshman QB’s assert themselves at their respective programs. Hank Bachmeier has impressed as Boise State upset Florida State on opening weekend, now they sit 22nd ranked and 2-0.

Sam Howell has done the same at North Carolina, leading them to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2014. He’s led the Tar Heels to comeback wins against South Carolina and Miami, showing up big in both games. Bo Nix has led eighth ranked Auburn to a massive in against Oregon, showing that the future is looking bright for these three programs.

Boise State true freshman Hank Bachmeier was a highly rated recruit who has now led his team to a 2-0 start and top 25 ranking. Photo: Boise State Broncos.

9) Storied Programs Start Slow

Many of the teams in the early Top 25 rankings are not a surprise, however some other storied programs have started at the other end of the spectrum. Tennessee were the shock of week one as they lost to lowly Georgia State, but they lost again 29-26 against BYU. This is the first time they have started 0-2 since 1988 and head coach Jeremy Pruitt is definitely on the hot seat.

Miami lost a close game to Florida on opening weekend, but now compounded it with a 28-25 loss to North Carolina. They are now 0-2 for the first time since 1978, with new head coach Manny Diaz already struggling.

10) More Quarterback Injuries in Week Two

The opening two weeks have been rough for quarterbacks, with the likes of USC and Northwestern losing their starters on opening weekend. Week two unfortunately saw South Carolina QB Jake Bentley go down with a Lisfranc fracture on his left foot. This will require season ending surgery, and is a tough break for a player who was hoping to build his NFL Draft stock this season.

Kentucky QB Terry Wilson was the other big casualty, as he is now out for the season after tearing his patellar tendon in his knee in his teams win against Eastern Michigan. This is a tough break for a player who led the team to it’s first ten win season since 1978 last year.

This rounds up some of the main talking points from a busy week two of the college football season. If you have comments about this piece or the week two results feel free to comment below or find me on Twitter @JWjournalism. Finally, a massive thank you to anyone who read this article I really appreciate it!

College Football Week Two Preview

The opening week of college football didn’t provide many shocks, but that should change this weekend. There are some marquee games which will impact the Top 25 polls, as teams get up to speed after the opening week. Let’s look at the ten major talking points heading into week two.

1) Texas A & M @ Clemson Matchup

The biggest matchup of the week is Texas A & M visiting Death Valley to face number one ranked Clemson. Last seasons game in College Station was a close 28-26 Clemson win, with home field advantage giving added confidence.

Texas A & M are now in their second year under Jimbo Fisher and showed signs of improvement in week one despite facing lowly Texas State. This will be a close game where Clemson will have to be at their best to win, but they will enter the game as favourites.

2) Massive Opportunity for Trevor Lawrence

Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence took the college football world by storm last year, coming in mid-season and leading them to a national championship as a true freshman. This year the expectations are massive yet in the opening week he struggled.

He went 13-23 for 168 yards with 1 TD and 2 INT’s, yet the Clemson team still handily beat Georgia Tech 52-14. This can be put down to opening week rust, but this will not cut it against a very talented Texas A & M side. Clemson will need more than it’s rushing attack to win this game.

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Trevor Lawrence struggled last weekend, and will need a big game against Texas A & M if he harbors Heisman hopes this year. Photo: Ken Ruinard/Greenville News.

3) LSU @ Texas

This is another massive game involving a team from the Lone star state, as LSU rolls into Texas. This top ten match-up between sixth ranked LSU and ninth ranked Texas will have play-off implications. Both sides won comfortably in week one and have looked resurgent this season.

After years of struggle at the position, both LSU and Texas now have QB’s they feel confident with. Joe Burrow for LSU has rebounded from a difficult time at Ohio State, whereas Sam Ehlinger has lived out a dream and proved people wrong at Texas. This will be a highlight game this weekend.

4) Sam Ehlinger and Grant Delpit Marquee Matchup

There are plenty of big name players on both teams, but the key matchup of the game will be Sam Ehlinger and Grant Delpit. Ehlinger has improved every year whilst at Texas, and could rise up draft boards with another good season. Key to that will be a impressive win in this game.

Standing in his way is the player some have called the best player in college football. LSU safety Grant Delpit is a likely top ten pick in next years NFL Draft,after proving himself a beast at LSU. Whoever wins this matchup will likely prove key to their teams victory.

5) Can Cincinnati Shock Ohio State?

A potential shock of the weekend could unfold in Columbus, Ohio, as Cincinnati will prove a stern test for Ohio State. The Bearcats are feeling confident after a 24-14 win against UCLA, and have taken a massive step forward these past two years.

Head coach Luke Fickell has taken them from 4-8 to 11-2 last year, along with an AP Top 25 berth. He was a former player and coach at Ohio State, so he knows the school well. Ohio State were not challenged in week one, and therefore new QB Justin Fields may struggle if pressured early. Ohio State should win, but an upset could happen.

Texas QB Sam Ehlinger grew up a longhorns fan, and has helped restore them back to prominence. A win against LSU will thrust them into the play-off hunt. Photo: Sean Gardner/Getty Images.

6) What Can USC do Against Stanford?

This game was set to be another big matchup, however both teams are dealing with quarterback injuries. K.J Costello will miss this game for Stanford with a head injury, and J.T Daniels has a torn ACL for USC.

Stanford will go into the game as favourites as they are ranked 23rd in the polls, and their QB Davis Mills matches up well with USC QB Kedon Slovis. Mills is more experienced and was a former five star recruit, whereas Slovis is a true freshman going up against a good Stanford defence.

7) Can Opening Weekend Losing Sides Rebound?

Opening week losses can ruin a season after it’s barely begun, so this week will prove crucial to those who lost last weekend. Top of the list is Oregon, who lost agonizingly to Auburn. They face a good Nevada side, however they should rebound comfortably.

Making unwanted headlines last weekend was Tennessee, who may struggle again this week against BYU. Both sides are 0-1, however BYU’s 30-13 loss to 13th ranked Utah is respected more than Tennessee’s loss to Georgia State. This will be a close game that BYU should feel quietly confident about.

8) Upset Alert for Week Two?

Everyone in college football loves upsets, and there’s some contenders in week two. Clemson could fall to 12th ranked Texas A & M, whereas sixth ranked LSU could lose to a very good ninth ranked Texas side.

Outside of these Maryland are coming off a 79-0 win and could upset 21st ranked Syracuse at home. As I mentioned above Cincinnati could also shock Ohio State in Columbus. 25th ranked Nebraska face a tricky road test against a good Colorado side. Teams that might also struggle include West Virginia, UCLA and Tennessee.

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The moment Oregon’s hopes of victory faded in the final seconds against Auburn. Their season effectively starts this week now. Photo: Matthew Emmons/USA Today Sports.

9) Games of the Weekend

The two standout games are undoubtedly Texas A & M at Clemson 3.30PM ET Saturday, before LSU travels to Texas 7.30PM ET. All four teams are ranked in the top 12 and would love to make early play-off claims with a win.

Outside of the obvious games, some hidden gems include Syracuse travelling to Maryland noon ET, Cincinnati vising Ohio State at the same time and Nebraska at Colorado 3.30PM ET.

10) Injury Curse Strikes at Northwestern

Opening week injuries are tough, especially in this case. Northwestern QB TJ Green is out for the season after suffering a foot injury in their loss to Stanford last weekend.

The injury occurred in the third quarter, and means he may now be forced to seek a medical redshirt to preserve his eligibility as a fifth year senior. Clemson transfer Hunter Johnson will now take over, with the former five star prospect having a bye week to give him extra time to learn this offense.

That wraps up my preview of the main talking points heading into a loaded week two of the college football season. If you have any thoughts about this weekend’s game leave them in the comment section below or find me on Twitter @JWjournalism. Finally, a massive thank you for reading this article!

College Football Week One Talking Points

This is the first in a new series, examining the main talking points from the opening week of the college football season, from the eyes of an Englishman now living in the U.S.

The opening weekend didn’t throw up many shocks, however here are my ten major talking points. Also a quick disclaimer before I begin, this is simply a shallow dive into the main stories of the week through the eyes of a fan, if you want more in-depth articles it’s probably best to read the analysts articles.

1) Big Win for Auburn and Bo Nix

Bo Nix and the Auburn Tigers took down the Oregon Ducks 27-21 in the only surprise result between ranked teams last week. The true freshman Nix threw a go-ahead touchdown with nine seconds remaining in a legendary moment on his debut.

Nix struggled during the game, going 13-31 for 177 yards with 2 INT to match 2 TD’s, but the five star phenom has Auburn fans feeling excited about the next three years. Auburn jumped to tenth in the AP Top 25 poll, and now face Tulane in their home opener on Saturday.

2) Oregon Big Losers in Week One

Oregon will feel distraught after an especially tough opening week loss. The team played well throughout and led right up until the final nine seconds, with a long recovery ahead if they want to compete for the College Football Playoff.

Senior QB Justin Herbert was the better QB in the game, going 28-37 for 242 yards and a TD. Receiver Johnny Johnson III built good chemistry with Herbert, to the tune of seven receptions for 98 yards. This is a tough loss, but starting this week against Nevada, their schedule helps them going down the stretch.

Bo Nix played beyond his true freshman status to earn the comeback win against Oregon last weekend. Photo: Ron Jenkins (AP).

3) Jalen Hurts Already Anointed Heisman Favourite?

Jalen Hurts proved the pre-season hype on him as a Heisman contender was justified in week one. The Oklahoma QB had a monster six touchdown game in their 49-31 win over a good Houston team. 332 passing yards and 3 TD’s was matched with 176 yards rushing and another 3 TD’s.

The Alabama graduate transfer smashed the Oklahoma record for single game yardage with 508, Baker Mayfield previously held it with 396 yards. Some call it the Lincoln Riley effect, but Oklahoma could have three consecutive Heisman Trophy winners come December.

4) Big Debut for Justin Fields

Another high-profile summer transfer showed up big in week one, Ohio State QB Justin Fields. The sophomore standout was key as Ohio State rolled over Florida Atlantic 45-21. He lit up the first quarter with 4 TD’s, in a statement performance on his debut after transferring from Georgia.

This Ohio state team is loaded with NFL talent, and Fields has shown after week one he can take over from Dwayne Haskins. The team will face a tougher test this week against Cincinnati, but they have already shown this team will be a serious play-off contender this season.

5) Florida State Return Still on Hold

The Florida State Seminoles hoped to put last season behind them, but old demons returned in a 36-31 loss to Boise State in Tallahassee. The team collapsed in the second half after looking dominant in the first half.

QB James Blackman looked good with 327 yards and 3 TD’s, but they let Boise State score 23 unanswered points to steal the win. This FSU team has plenty of NFL talent, but under Willie Taggart they struggle to close games out. 5-7 is not acceptable at FSU, and Taggart will feel the pressure even more after this loss.

A Florida State players reflects the mood of the team as they let Boise State come back for the win as the pressure piles on head coach Willie Taggart. Photo: Mark Wallheiser/AP.

6) Georgia State Win Upset of Week One

Another historic program currently struggling is Tennessee, and their home loss to Georgia State 38-30 was undoubtedly the shock of the opening week. It’s been a while since Tennessee has been a title contender, but this is a new low for the once proud program.

A fourth quarter collapse gave the underdog Georgia State team the win. This is a historic win for their team and they deserve the plaudits. This season may prove tough for Tennessee fans in the ultra competitive SEC.

7) USC QB J.T Daniels Out for Season

Week one was brutal for USC despite a 31-23 win against Fresno State. This is because of a torn ACL for starting QB J.T Daniels, after being sacked in the second quarter.

Daniels was a five star phenom in California and was hoping to step up after a mixed freshman season. USC had PAC-12 championship hopes, which now lie in the hands of true freshman Kedon Slovis. The season just got a whole lot tougher for USC.

8) Running Backs Put on a Show

Running backs stole the show for a lot of Offences in week one. Clemson junior Travis Etienne led the way with 205 yards in their win against Georgia Tech. Fellow junior D’Andre Swift ran for 147 yards in Georgia’s win over Vanderbilt. Jonathan Taylor got 135 yards and 2 TD’s against USF.

Cam Akers of Florida State and Eno Benjamin of Arizona State are two more highly touted backs who ran for over 100 yards on opening weekend. All of these players are juniors, which means the 2020 NFL Draft running back class may be the best in years.

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Clemson Running Back scampers past his sideline in one of his three touchdown runs to open the season. He will likely be a first round NFL Draft pick next year if he declares. Photo: Richard Shiro/AP.

9) UCLA Struggle Once Again

The Chip Kelly era started with massive promise, but is now in danger of flaming out. The once heralded coach is now on the hot seat after they lost their opening game 24-14 to Cincinnati.

UCLA struggled with ugly turnovers from QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and struggled for identity in a tough loss to a better Cincinnati team. The 3-9 record last year is well below expectations and this season hasn’t started any better.

10) No Major Top 25 Surprises in Week One

Week one didn’t provide much upsets for the top 25 ranked sides, other than Auburn upsetting Oregon. Ranked teams usually like to start the season with easier opponents to give them time to get up to speed before the real season starts.

The NCAA does try to provide showcase games in the opening week, but more needs to be done to ensure we get bigger games in the opening week. For now the AP top 25 has stayed largely the same other than Auburn and Oregon moving.

That wraps up my brief look at some of the major talking points from the opening weekend of college football. Do you have any thoughts on these points or your college football team? Let me know either in the comments section below or find me on Twitter @JWjournalism. Finally, a massive thank you to anyone who reads this I really appreciate it!

2019 Rolex 24 LMP2 Preview

The big change at the top of the IMSA WeatherTech series is the split of the DPI and LMP2 machinery for 2019. This has had a massive effect on the health of the LMP2 entries, with many teams opting to move into the DPI class as they look to continue fighting for race victories.

For the Rolex 24 there are only four entries, and only two of these are for the full IMSA season. This is been an issue for the series all winter, with the health of the class beyond this season looking very shaky right now. Despite the long-term reservations of this class, the small entry more thank makes up for in quality what it lacks in quantity. Let’s assess each of the four contenders for class victory and a priceless Rolex watch.

#18 DragonSpeed Oreca 07-Gibson: Ryan Cullen/Roberto Gonzalez/Pastor Maldonado/Sebastien Saavedra

DragonSpeed has risen quickly to become one of the most competitive LMP2 teams in both the European Le Mans Series and the World Endurance Championship. The team have now turned their attention to the Rolex 24, and have brought plenty of talent with them.

This #18 entry is piloted by the WEC driver pairing of Roberto Gonzalez and Pastor Maldonado. They currently sit 4th in the WEC points and have quickly formed a strong duo. They are joined by Sebastien Saavedra, former Indycar racer who transitioned to the IMSA series last season. Completing the driving crew is another sportscar convert from single-seaters, Ryan Cullen.

All four drivers have sportscar experience and whilst Maldonado is the star name because of his F1 career, all four are very quick and can win this class for the team. The crew struggled slightly in the pre-race qualifying session, however it’s impossible to judge ultimate pace from one session as we don’t know the programmes’s teams were running at the test.

#38 Performance Tech Oreca 07-Gibson: Cameron Cassels/Kyle Masson/Robin Masson/Kris Wright

Performance Tech were one of many teams that graduated from the LMPC class up to the main Prototype class last season. The team flashed potential, most notable with their 4th place qualifying result for the Rolex 24 last year, but the team did struggle to translate this into consistent results across the year.

The team have retained a driver line-up largely familiar with the team, beginning with Kyle Masson. He raced with the team in the series last year and is quick racer. Cameron Cassels steps up to the series after good results in the LMP3 support series last year. Kris Wright is another promising driver who won the LMP3 class last season and has now been rewarded with a promotion for the Rolex 24.

The team were the slowest of the LMP2 entries at the pre-race Roar, however over a 24 hour race one lap pace is not a key to victory. The team have a years worth of experience with this Oreca and the series, and can go for the win. They’re drivers are not as flashy as other line-up’s in this class, but they are consistent and underrated for sure.

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#52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsport Oreca 07-Gibson: Gabriel Aubry/Enzo Guibbert/Mark Kvamme/Matt McMurry

2018 was a difficult year for the PR1/Mathiasen team, and one they will hope to rebound from this year. The team partnered with Indycar team AFS Racing, and switched from a Ligier to Oreca chassis halfway through the season. The team now have some experience with the dominant Oreca chassis and will go into the Rolex 24 with renewed confidence.

The driving crew is a mix of young talent and experience, led by Gabriel Aubry and Matt McMurry. Aubry is currently proving his talents in the WEC and looks a highly promising prospect for the future. Matt McMurry, despite only being 22, has a wealth of sportscar experience and is a proven talent at this level. Enzo Guibbert is another talented young racer who has shown good performances in Europe. Experienced Am Mark Kvamme completes the crew. He won’t be as fast as his young teammates but he does have a wealth of experience at this level.

The team showed their one lap pace is good, setting the fastest time at the Roar qualifying session. They were almost half a second clear of their rivals, although for the race consistent pace and a clean run are much more important than one lap pace. The team has a good chance of winning this class, and based off the Roar they would be favourites to claim the class pole also.

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#81 DragonSpeed Oreca 07-Gibson: Ben Hanley/Henrik Hedman/Nico Lapierre/James Allen

The second DragonSpeed entry is this #81 car, the teams usual ELMS entry. The team have flashed potential in the ELMS, but have not quite found the ultimate pace to challenge consistently for the title. It’s clear however that the team have more than enough pace to be able to challenge for this Rolex 24 victory.

The team have brought over their usual ELMS driving talent, of Ben Hanley, Henrik Hedman and Nico Lapierre. Lapierre is a former Toyota factory driver and is a very quick driver at this level. Ben Hanley is a fellow single-seater convert who has found a place to show his considerable talents after a few years out of car racing. Henrik Hedman is the Am in this entry, but he has shown solid pace and has years of experience with the team. Completing the team is James Allen, a young Australian with bags of potential and has already shown tremendous potential at this level.

The #81 crew got the best of their teammates in the pre-race Roar, finishing almost a second better than them in qualifying. The team can take promise from this good showing, and will fancy their chances against the two American based teams in the race. Either one of these DragonSpeed entries will likely be favourites for the race, barring any accidents or mechanical issues during the 24 hours.

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Who do you guys think will win the LMP2 class at this years Rolex 24? Let me know in the comments section below. A massive thank you must go to Motorsport.com and LAT Images for those featured in this page. Find me on Twitter @JWjournalism and thank you for reading!

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