Four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada, who signed with Florida on Dec. 21 but did not report to campus last week amid a name, image and likeness dispute, asked the NCAA for a scholarship release, sources close to the program confirmed to The Athletic. 247Sports was first to report the filing. Here’s what you need to know:
Sources said the recruit’s family has been at odds with the football program ever since the Gator Collective terminated an NIL contract valued at more than $13 million.
Rashada is the No. 56 prospect in the 2023 recruiting class and the No. 7 quarterback, per the 247Sports Composite. The graduate of Pittsburg (Calif.) High was among the highest-ranked quarterbacks the Gators have landed in the past decade.
He committed to Miami in June amid speculation of a $9 million NIL deal, then flipped to Florida on Nov. 10.
While Rashada participated in the Under-Armour All-American event last week in Orlando, his father Harlen told The Athletic the family was headed straight to Gainesville for spring enrollment.
What happened?
Sources close to the program told The Athletic that a $13 million NIL deal, struck between the Gator Collective and Rashada before he flipped to Florida in November, began falling apart last month. Rashada ultimately signed anyway and publicly sounded enthused about moving in on campus and learning the offense. Last week’s enrollment delay surrounded contention over the value of a renegotiated NIL deal.
What does this mean for Florida’s quarterback situation?
The Gators recently landed Wisconsin transfer Graham Mertz and have fourth-year sophomore Jack Miller returning. They also have Max Brown, a 2022 signee who redshirted this past season. But Rashada was the high-profile, big-arm talent who was expected to acclimate this spring and push for early playing time.
A commitment from 2024 elite quarterback DJ Lagway helps ease the sting, though Rashada’s departure creates a public relations headache for the football program. It also shines a light on the perils athletic departments face with NIL deals forced to be negotiated by a third party.
“The University of Florida football program is really one of victims in this case,” said a source familiar with the Gator Collective’s dealings.
UPDATE: Florida Gators redshirt freshman quarterback Jalen Kitna posted an $80,000 bond, according to Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel, and was released from the Alachua County Jail on Thursday evening.
Kitna is no longer listed as “in custody,” according to the Alachua County Clerk of Circuit Court, and his profile has been removed from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search.
Kitna’s bond was set on Thursday during his first court appearance. He faces five preliminary charges related to child pornography: Two second-degree counts of distribution of child exploitation material and three third-degree counts of possession of child pornography.
UPDATE: Florida Gators redshirt freshman quarterback Jalen Kitna made his first appearance in Alachua County Court on Thursday after his arrest on Wednesday for five preliminary felony charges relating to child pornography possession and distribution.
Kitna appeared via video stream from the Alachua County Jail. His parents, Jon and Jennifer Kitna, and his pastor were present in court.
According to WUFT-Gainesville, Kitna’s bond was set at $80,000 despite pleas from his lawyer, Caleb Kenyon, to release Kitna without bail, claiming no individuals were directly victimized by Kitna’s alleged actions.
Kitna previously admitted to sharing two images containing child sexual abuse material to the social media website Discord in an interview with Gainesville Police Department Detective Donna Montague. A search warrant of Kitna’s conducted on Wednesday led to the discovery of three additional images of child sexual abuse material in his possession upon preliminary analysis of Kitna’s electronic devices.
Alachua County Court Judge Meshon T. Rawls denied Kenyon’s request and ordered Kitna to not use the internet and have no unsupervised contact with minors.
If convicted of the charges — the State Attorney’s office will determine whether to formally file criminal charges or not in the coming weeks, after his preliminary charges read of three counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of distribution of child exploitation material — Kitna faces up to 45 years in prison and $35,000 in fines.
Kitna was dressed in a dark green, sleeveless gown that indicates he was on suicide watch during his appearance, officials said per WUFT.
UPDATE: Florida Gators redshirt freshman quarterback Jalen Kitna was charged on Wednesday with three counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of distribution of child exploitation material, the latter two charges being second-degree felonies, according to a statement from the Gainesville Police Department.
Per the police statement, a search warrant was served at Kitna’s place of residence in Gainesville on Wednesday morning after receiving a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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Further investigation by Gainesville Police Department Detective Donna Montague uncovered two images containing child sexual abuse material shared to the social media website Discord from Kitna’s address. The investigation also revealed that the probable Discord account holder was Kitna.
Kitna’s electronic devices were seized as a part of the search warrant. Three additional images of child sexual abuse material were discovered upon preliminary analysis of those devices.
UF released the following statement on Wednesday afternoon, acknowledging that Kitna has been suspended from the program indefinitely.
“We are shocked and saddened to hear of the news involving Jalen Kitna. These are extremely serious charges and the University of Florida and the UAA have zero tolerance for such behavior.
“Jalen has been suspended indefinitely from the football program.”
Florida Gators redshirt freshman quarterback Jalen Kitna was booked into the Alachua County Jail at 3:20 pm ET on Wednesday, November 30.
Charges were not immediately made available for Kitna’s arrest.
Kitna, the son of former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, signed with Florida as a member of the 2021 recruiting class. He did not take the field during his true freshman but emerged as the backup to starting signal-caller Anthony Richardson during the 2022 season, in which he appeared in four games and completed 10-of-14 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown.
Kitna notably entered at a crucial point in the first half against FSU when Richardson was sidelined for a few plays due to injury.
The backup kept the drive alive in Richardson’s absence — albeit not recording a pass — as he was on the field for two third-down conversions and reeled off a six-yard rush of his own to push the ball into the red zone. That set up a go-ahead touchdown pass upon Richardson’s return to take a 14-7 lead in the first quarter.
The Burleson (Texas) High School product was expected to at least compete for a starting spot this offseason as a result, if Richardson elects to depart from the program for the NFL Draft, alongside redshirt sophomore Jack Miller III, true freshman Max Brown, incoming freshman quarterback Jaden Rashada and a potential transfer portal addition.
This story will be updated as further details emerge.
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I went 5-6 last week against the spread, dropping me to three games under .500 against the line for the season. The good: nailing my upset special with Liberty handling BYU. The bad: picking Toledo to beat Buffalo by double digits. The ugly: picking Iowa to keep it sort of close against Ohio State.
(All point spreads come from BetMGM, click here for live odds, all kickoff times Eastern.)
Notre Dame at No. 16 Syracuse (-2.5), Noon, ABC
The Orange offense has sputtered for most of the past month, going over 400 yards only once, against FCS Wagner. The defense, though, has been outstanding, and should be able to handle a very inconsistent Notre Dame attack.
Syracuse 23, Notre Dame 17 Pick: Syracuse 2.5
No. 2 Ohio State (-15.5) at No. 13 Penn State, Noon, Fox
This is the first big test for the Buckeyes, who have a ton of firepower. I think the Nittany Lions respond after getting embarrassed in the trenches on both sides of the ball at Michigan, but ultimately Ohio State’s edge at quarterback will be the difference in the second half.
Ohio State 38, Penn State 27 Pick: Penn State +15.5
No. 7 TCU (-7.5) at West Virginia, Noon, ESPN
The Mountaineers defense, especially against the pass, has been savaged this month. Now it faces a faster team than it’s seen before and with a hotter quarterback. Uh-oh.
TCU 40, West Virginia 24 Pick: TCU -7.5
No. 20 Cincinnati at UCF (-1), 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Both defenses are really good, but the Bearcats’ is better and has been more consistent.
Cincinnati 28, UCF 24 Pick: Cincinnati +1
No. 1 Georgia (-22.5) vs. Florida, 3:30 p.m., CBS
It feels like it’s time for the Bulldogs to flex their muscle again. I think Kirby Smart will have them primed to slow down dual-threat quarterback Anthony Richardson and a Gators run game that has come alive since losing at Tennessee last month.
Georgia 42, Florida 21 Pick: Florida +22.5
No. 9 Oklahoma State at No. 22 Kansas State (-1.5), 3:30 p.m., Fox
Mike Gundy’s team gives up a ton of yards but the offense has been so good, it’s been able to overcome the defensive woes. I think it will again.
Oklahoma State 35, Kansas State 31 Pick: Oklahoma State +1.5
I like Will Levis’ playmaking ability and Chris Rodriguez has really heated up since returning, but I just can’t pick against the Vols at home right now.
Tennessee 44, Kentucky 31 Pick: Tennessee -12.5
Even when Michigan has won in this heated rivalry in recent years, MSU has managed to keep it relatively tight and prevent the Wolverines from covering. But my sense is this Michigan team is different from ones in the past and will keep its foot on the gas.
Michigan 45, Michigan State 17 Pick: Michigan -22.5
No. 15 Ole Miss (-2.5) at Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network
Lane Kiffin will face his old defensive coordinator DJ Durkin and the Aggies should have some answers, but I don’t see them being able to wake up what has been a dreadful offense against the SEC’s top pass rush.
Ole Miss 28, Texas A&M 20 Pick: Ole Miss -2.5
Pitt at No. 21 North Carolina (-3), 8 p.m., ACC Network
The Tar Heels return home after two road trips to face a Pitt team that lost by two touchdowns at Louisville. Go with UNC. Drake Maye has a 13-0 TD-INT ratio in games at Chapel Hill.
UNC 31, Pitt 20 Pick: North Carolina -3
Upset special: Illinois (-7.5) at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m., ABC
The Huskers have played really hard for Mickey Joseph and I think they’re overdue for a big upset win, although I almost talked myself out of this one considering that Nebraska’s defense was on the field for 101 plays last week and the Illini’s was only out there for 42.
Last week was not my finest hour. Did I really pick Iowa to cover against Ohio State?
I feel much more confident this week. Really. I do.
Last week: 5-6 against the spread
Season: 44-43-1 against the spread
(All point spreads come from BetMGM, click here for live odds, all kickoff times Eastern.)
Syracuse lost a heartbreaker at Clemson but gained a lot of respect nonetheless. QB Garrett Shrader is a gamer, and the defense got after Tigers QB DJ Uiagalelei. Clemson ultimately gashed the Orange on the ground. Notre Dame aspires to have that kind of rushing attack but it has been inconsistent for much of the season.
Syracuse 27, Notre Dame 20 Pick: Syracuse -2.5
No. 2 Ohio State (-15.5) at No. 13 Penn State, Noon, Fox
Penn State’s secondary, led by CB Joey Porter Jr., has helped Penn State rank No. 5 nationally in pass efficiency defense and gives the Nittany Lions hope of at least slowing down Buckeyes star C.J. Stroud and his receivers. It’s just hard to imagine Sean Clifford and Penn State’s offense will be able to keep up for four quarters.
Ohio State 35, Penn State 24 Pick: Penn State +15.5
No. 7 TCU (-7.5) at West Virginia, Noon, ESPN
TCU is going to lose at some point, and a trip to Morgantown on the heels of facing four straight Top 25 opponents has all the makings of a trap. But Max Duggan and the Horned Frogs love to take shots, and West Virginia’s defense largely fails to stop them. The Mountaineers rank 108th nationally in 20+ yard plays allowed (39).
TCU 38, West Virginia 28 Pick: TCU -7.5
No. 20 Cincinnati at UCF (-1), 3:30 p.m., ESPN
UCF has been all over the map this season. In their last two games, the Knights put up 70 points on Temple, then got blown out 34-13 at East Carolina. QB John Rhys Plumlee threw three picks and was sacked four times by the Pirates. Luke Fickell’s defense, led by LB Ivan Pace Jr., will come after him.
Cincinnati 21, UCF 16 Pick: Cincinnati +1
No. 1 Georgia (-22.5) vs. Florida, 3:30 p.m., CBS
Florida QB Anthony Richardson had a miserable first career start against the Dawgs last season. He’s going to need to ball out for the Gators to have any chance in this one. Florida’s defense is just horrendous (105th nationally), and Georgia’s offense is particularly problematic thanks to matchup nightmares like TE Brock Bowers.
Georgia 44, Florida 20 Pick: Georgia -22.5
It’s Oklahoma State’s third straight game against a ranked opponent, and the first two — a 43-40 overtime loss to TCU and a 41-34 comeback win over Texas — were both nailbiters. While QB Adrian Martinez’s uncertain status makes it difficult to handicap K-State, it seems like the Wildcats could catch the Cowboys when they’re a tad worn out.
Kansas State 33, Oklahoma State 30 Pick: Kansas State -1.5
Kentucky QB Will Levis is the more highly regarded NFL draft prospect, yet I have considerably more confidence in Vols star Hendon Hooker. Levis effectively spelled out at a news conference that the Wildcats’ plan is to string out long drives to keep the ball away from Tennessee’s offense, but the Vols score so quickly I’m not sure that matters.
Tennessee 41, Kentucky 27 Pick: Tennessee -12.5
Mel Tucker is 2-0 against Michigan, and the Spartans have won 10 of the last 14 editions of this rivalry — which seems like a setup for the Wolverines to take out a whole lot of frustration in this one. State’s offense is a shell of last year’s Kenneth Walker III-led version and its defense is 105th nationally. Whereas Michigan is good at everything.
Michigan 42, Michigan State 14 Pick: Michigan -22.5
No. 15 Ole Miss (-2.5) at Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network
This line is just begging us to take the 3-4 Aggies at home, and you know Jimbo wants this one badly after some of Lane Kiffin’s potshots. But I’ve watched too much of that dreadful offense and I can’t unsee it. The Aggies don’t have a dynamic quarterback like LSU’s Jayden Daniels, who exposed the flaws of Ole Miss’ previously untested offense.
Ole Miss 24, Texas A&M 20 Pick: Ole Miss -2.5
Pitt at No. 21 North Carolina (-3), 8 p.m., ACC Network
I’ve been saying for weeks that UNC is not as good as its record (6-1) and ranking. Vegas seems to agree with me given the Tar Heels are only three-point home favorites over a 4-3 Pitt team with losses to Georgia Tech and Louisville. But Panthers QB Kedon Slovis has not looked capable of exploiting UNC’s biggest weakness, its pass defense.
North Carolina 34, Pitt 27 Pick: North Carolina -3
Upset Special: UAB (-5.5) at FAU, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
I don’t have any Xs and Os insight on this one. I just saw that FAU is advertising this game as “The Biggest Halloween Party in Boca Raton,” and that sounds like a scary place to be if you’re 5.5-point favorite UAB.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart offered some of his strongest comments yet Wednesday about wanting to move the Georgia-Florida football game to the schools’ campuses rather than playing it in Jacksonville, Florida, every season.
During an interview on SEC Network at SEC media days Wednesday, Smart said having the game in Jacksonville, where it has been played every season but two since 1933, hurts recruiting because under NCAA rules prospects aren’t allowed to attend the neutral-site game.
When Georgia is designated as the home team in Jacksonville, it plays just three SEC home games in Athens, Georgia, that season. It gives the Bulldogs fewer opportunities to host recruits on campus.
“I’m competing against [coaches] all across the SEC who host recruits at their biggest games,” Smart said. “When Auburn plays at Alabama, guess where the recruits are? When LSU and Alabama play, that’s where the biggest recruits want to go. It’s an opportunity for us to bring these kids, who fly in from all over the country — what game do they want to come see Georgia play? They’d like to see Georgia play Florida, but they can’t do that.
“It’s very important. Recruiting is very important. … I just can’t get a Florida coach to agree with me about [moving the game].”
Last year, the Jacksonville City Council approved a contract extension that will keep the SEC contest there through at least the 2023 season. There is also an option to play it there in 2024 and 2025. This season, the Bulldogs and Gators are scheduled to play at TIAA Bank Field on Oct. 29.
New Gators coach Billy Napier, speaking to reporters at SEC media days, said he wanted to coach in the game before forming an opinion about where it should be played.
“I want to experience the game first,” Napier said. “I’d like to see that game in Jacksonville, experience that game, before I have an opinion on it. There’s a lot of credibility to both [arguments]. The home-and-home obviously would be fantastic, but there’s also some tradition there. There’s a rivalry there. Time will tell.”
MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — When presented with two choices — one sensible and exciting and one completely idiotic — the debate shouldn’t last long. The idiotic choice should be punted and the sensible, exciting idea should be adopted.
Once the choices were narrowed to two, the discussion about the SEC’s potential regular-season scheduling options once Oklahoma and Texas join the league (in 2025 at the latest) should have taken about five seconds. Yet SEC athletic directors are still debating which model is best after two days of discussions. In any profession, it’s always possible to get so deep in the weeds that the obvious decision doesn’t seem so obvious. That’s what’s happening on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico this week.
SEC presidents and chancellors will join the ADs Thursday. These people have a lot more to worry about. So hopefully they are less likely to get lost in the minutiae. And hopefully, they’ll make the correct decision.
I bet if I lay out the options without identifying which is the good one and which is the stupid one you’ll pick the better one without blinking. Let’s try it.
• One option would be a divisionless eight-game conference schedule that features one fixed opponent for each school while rotating the other seven games throughout the remainder of the conference’s (soon-to-be) 16-team membership. This plan would protect Alabama–Auburn (the Iron Bowl) but not Auburn-Georgia (The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry) or Alabama-Tennessee (The Third Saturday In October). Florida and Georgia would play annually, but Florida and Tennessee would not. Oklahoma and Texas would play annually. Texas and Texas A&M would not.
• The other option is a divisionless nine-game conference schedule that features three fixed opponents for each school while rotating the other six games through the remainder of the conference. This would allow Alabama-Auburn, Auburn-Georgia, Alabama-Tennessee, Oklahoma-Texas and Texas-Texas A&M to be played annually. It also might stoke the fires of a few emerging rivalries such as LSU-Texas A&M. It could potentially create new ones as well. For example, it’s a little weird that Arkansas and Oklahoma — flagship universities in bordering states — have played only 15 times since 1899 and only three times since 1978. Perhaps each could be part of the other’s trio.
Did you spot the dumb one? Of course you did. It’s the 1-7 model. If a bunch of allegedly intelligent people got together and decided that Texas and Texas A&M — or Georgia and Auburn or Alabama and Tennessee — shouldn’t play annually when a reasonable possibility exists, then whoever voted to adopt that model should find a new line of work. They lack the common sense to sell football games for a living, and that calls into question their decision-making in every other matter as well. The Big Ten is likely about to change its scheduling model in the near future. Can you imagine that league’s leaders saying “We don’t need Michigan and Michigan State to play EVERY year?” Of course not.
The 3-6 model is the only logical choice. So why is anyone fighting it?
The resistance is two-fold. Some schools would rather take the short view than make a choice that ultimately will sell more season-ticket packages on their campus and make them more money through the SEC’s future media rights deals.
Part of the opposition comes from leaders at certain schools who fear the zero-sum nature of adding a conference game. That means half the league is guaranteed one more loss per season. With nonconference games, those schools at the bottom of the standings can try to schedule their way to six wins and a bowl game in a mostly empty stadium in a medium-sized city. Another conference game means those schools have to work that much harder to get to .500. These schools are so afraid their teams won’t be quite mediocre enough that they’re trying to block a model that embraces progress and tradition all at once.
But that isn’t the only loser thinking standing in the way of you getting better, with more interesting games to watch on television during the regular season. There is a fear among a few in the league that if the College Football Playoff doesn’t expand, moving to nine conference games could hurt the SEC’s chances to keep producing national champs. This is silly. First, the odds of the CFP staying at four are slim because the only league that even likes four is the SEC. An early expansion was blocked in part because the SEC’s acquisition of Oklahoma and Texas freaked out the leaders of a few other leagues, but after a cooling-off period, those leagues will come back to the same place they were before the Oklahoma and Texas news broke. Most of them need expansion. And if you’ve been reading this space, you know that the SEC either wants an eight-best format or a 12-team format with six automatic qualifying spots for conference champs. Either one would allow plenty of room for SEC programs with a few schedule blemishes to make the field. And in the unlikely event the CFP stays at four beyond the 2025 season, a nine-game schedule probably wouldn’t reduce the SEC’s odds of producing a national champion in most years. If anything, it probably would increase the likelihood of a two-loss team getting admitted to a four-team system — which has yet to happen in the eight-season history of the CFP.
The good news on this front is the SEC doesn’t have to make a decision this week. It can push this for a little longer and wait to see if some clarity emerges on the next CFP format. The new schedule format needs to be in place when Oklahoma and Texas arrive. That’s 2025 at the latest. We’ll refrain from any speculation as to whether those two could buy their way out of the Big 12 early; so far, there has been no indication they can. But the SEC also might want to have the new format ready for 2024, when the league’s new media rights deal with ESPN begins. Doing so probably would require a decision on a model by late 2022 or early 2023. Pushing until 2025 would buy another year. “We get to set our own timetable here,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said Wednesday.
For the schools that crave bowl eligibility, it would be wise to remember that the schools make the NCAA’s rules. So these schools could simply lobby to change the rule for bowl eligibility. They’d likely find plenty of allies in the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12. The Group of 5 leagues would understandably be dead set against lowering the standard for bowl eligibility. But answer this question honestly: Which Boca Raton Bowl would you rather watch while wrapping presents/casually betting second-half totals? Do you want Western Kentucky–Appalachian State or Mississippi State–Minnesota?
And please, don’t even start with the arguments about the need for bowls to be a reward for a great season. That was true when there were eight bowls. It’s laughable when there are more than 40. They are television inventory for our entertainment, and our viewing habits suggest that adding a few more could make some more coin for ESPN.
The supporters of the 3-6 model also likely would extend an olive branch to those schools by eliminating the requirement to book at least one Power 5 school in the nonconference schedule. So Georgia could keep scheduling Georgia Tech annually and a Clemson/Florida State type in most years — which it would even with a nine-game SEC schedule — and Arkansas could schedule Rice instead of Oklahoma State or Notre Dame. I don’t think that would make Arkansas fans happy. Nor do I think it would make them buy more tickets. But it would make 5-7 a lot less likely. (What’s odd about all this is that the schedules for Arkansas and Mississippi State would usually be easier without being in the meat grinder that is the current SEC West.)
For years, fans of Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12 schools have surmised that the SEC would always stick at eight conference games to minimize the possibility of losses for CFP purposes. The group within the SEC that wants to move to nine conference games doesn’t care about any outside pressure to homogenize scheduling models across conferences. This is market-driven. The current model — eight conference games within two seven-team divisions and one permanent crossover opponent — has caused home schedules to grow stale. That has produced lower season ticket sales at some schools and no-shows at places that still sell all their season tickets. (No-shows eventually turn into no-sales.) Texas A&M has been in the league for 10 seasons and played football at Georgia once. The Bulldogs still haven’t played an SEC game at Kyle Field.
What’s interesting is the staleness of the schedule was a result of the SEC trying too hard to protect tradition. Keeping Alabama-Tennessee an annual game was the main reason both cross-divisional opponents didn’t rotate each year. Now the SEC has a chance to protect that tradition and create more variety.
If its school leaders can get out of their own way and make the obvious choice.
(Photo of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young scrambling for a first down against Tennessee: Gary Cosby Jr. / USA Today)
The jet lag from Sunday’s flight home from the 2022 NFL draft in Las Vegas has barely worn off, but I’m already digging in on the 2023 class. I’m that excited about this group. After only one quarterback was selected in the first 73 picks this year, we could see a handful in the first round next April. There are also truly special prospects on the defensive side of the ball, and I think we could see five-plus receivers in Round 1 yet again. So let’s project the early scope of the first round.
Now, this is an extremely early prediction. I haven’t spent much time with the 2023 class’ tape yet, and a lot of this is based on what I’ve seen while watching prospects in person over the past two seasons and early buzz around the league. Expect big changes between now and next April. My 2022 way-too-early mock, for example, featured 10 prospects who ultimately were first-rounders and predicted five top-10 picks — but eight players listed ultimately didn’t enter the draft, and 14 others weren’t selected in Round 1. It’s still 12 months out, and we have a full college season and a long pre-draft process ahead.
Then there is the draft order, which I did not decide. We opted to project the order using the inverse of Super Bowl odds from Caesars Sportsbook, though we broke some ties and tweaked the end of the order to ensure seven teams from each conference in the playoffs. That puts Houston on the clock to get things going in Round 1.
Note: Underclassmen are noted with an asterisk. Traded picks are shown below as well.
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State*
The Texans believe in quarterback Davis Mills, but if they actually end up picking No. 1 next April, something went terribly awry for Mills during his sophomore season. Stroud has a big arm, completing 71.9% of his passes for 4,435 yards, 44 touchdowns and just six interceptions in 2021. The third-year sophomore has only 12 career starts, though, so all eyes will be on him this season.
Bryce Young, QB, Alabama*
Detroit wisely focused on the rest of its roster last week, but it will likely have to find its franchise quarterback in 2023 and has a prime chance to do so at No. 2 with Young still on the board. A former five-star recruit, Young is only 6-foot but has solid accuracy and plenty of mobility in the pocket. And he clearly has chemistry with receiver Jameson Williams, one of the Lions’ first-round picks this year, considering nearly a third of Young’s 4,872 passing yards in 2021 went Williams’ way. Jared Goff’s dead money dips to just $10 million next offseason, making the Lions’ QB easier to move on from.
Will Anderson Jr., DE, Alabama*
Anderson is probably the best player in the 2023 draft class and is here at No. 3 only because the teams picking at Nos. 1 and 2 need quarterbacks. The 6-foot-4, 243-pounder is a special player with elite traits and great burst to the quarterback. He led the nation in sacks (17.5), tackles for loss (34.5) and pressures (79) last year. Pairing Anderson with Jermaine Johnson II (a first-rounder this year) could give New York one of the least expensive yet best overall edge tandems in the NFL.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State*
If you don’t know the name yet, go watch some Rose Bowl highlights. Smith-Njigba caught 15 passes for 347 yards (a bowl game record) and three touchdowns in Ohio State’s win against Utah — putting him over 1,600 receiving yards for the season. It’s very possible he is a better prospect than Garrett Wilson or Chris Olave, who both just went in the top 11 picks. The Jags signed Christian Kirk and Zay Jones in March, but they still need a true WR1 for Trevor Lawrence. JSN can be that guy.
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia*
Another Georgia defender? The 6-foot-3, 310-pounder is extremely disruptive and would help shore up Atlanta’s run defense while providing a pass-rush spark from the interior. And yes, Grady Jarrett just signed an extension, but he will be 30 years old when the draft comes back around. Carter is the best player available here and a difference-maker.
As for quarterback, it’s a very possible direction for the Falcons. But Stroud and Young are off the board, and I get the sense that they would like to develop Desmond Ridder and give him a chance if there isn’t another clear and obvious upgrade on the table.
Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida*
The Panthers, however, should start scouting the 2023 signal-callers. I’m not so sure they view Matt Corral as a long-term option, and Sam Darnold will be off the books after this season. Plus, Carolina could have a new regime in place, especially if it’s picking this early again. Now, Richardson is a huge projection — the 6-foot-4, 236-pound passer played in just eight games and started once last year — and has some turnover issues. But he’s extremely talented and poised for a breakout season in his first as a full-time starter.
Jordan Addison, WR, Pittsburgh*
Addison entered the transfer portal, so where he’ll be suiting up this season is still up in the air. He was among the best receivers in college football last season with 100 catches for 1,593 yards and 17 trips to the end zone. The Bears opted to wait until Round 3 to draft a receiver (Velus Jones Jr.) and still need a legitimate outside starter opposite Darnell Mooney.
Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
The Giants didn’t pick up Daniel Jones’ fifth-year option, which leaves the QB seat up for grabs next season. Levis needs to find more consistency, but he has a live arm and a big 6-foot-3, 232-pound frame. He has thrived in the quick game at Kentucky, with a lot of run-pass options and screen-type stuff, but there are some Josh Allen-like traits here for new Giants coach Brian Daboll. Oh, and Levis connected with receiver Wan’Dale Robinson — whom the Giants drafted in Round 2 this year — 104 times last season.
play
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Mel Kiper Jr. breaks down which players teams should keep their eye on for the 2023 NFL draft.
Tyler Van Dyke, QB, Miami*
Van Dyke didn’t consistently play like a first-rounder in nine starts last season, but the 6-foot-4, 224-pounder has the talent of a future franchise passer. The third-year sophomore just needs to take the next step this year. Seattle GM John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll seem to still legitimately like Drew Lock’s potential as an NFL starter, but if the Seahawks have another disappointing season and another top-10 pick, they could be in the market for an upgrade.
Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama*
After a four-interception freshman year at LSU, Ricks missed most of 2021 with an injured shoulder and then transferred to Alabama. He’s a smooth press corner who can take away an opponent’s No. 1 receiver. The Commanders’ top two corners — William Jackson III and Kendall Fuller — are both under contract for only two more years, and the team’s pass defense has struggled, so adding a playmaker on the outside makes a lot of sense. One more note here: Ricks was arrested on Monday for speeding and possession of marijuana.
Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State*
Only the Dolphins had a worse pass block win rate than the Steelers last season (48.8%), and I don’t think Pittsburgh did enough to fix the line. When it decides to turn the offense’s keys over to new quarterback Kenny Pickett, the protection has to be there. Johnson has 13 career starts (all at right guard) and allowed only one sack last season. He will slide outside to left tackle this year.
Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia*
I thought Philadelphia might look at a cornerback in Round 1 this year, but the long-term spot opposite Darius Slay remains open — and Slay is currently primed to hit free agency in 2024. Ringo broke up eight passes and picked off two in 2021 as part of the dominant Bulldogs defense. One of those interceptions was a memorable one in the College Football Playoff national title game.
Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern*
Skoronski already has a lot of experience (21 starts), and the 6-foot-4, 294-pound lineman has the makings of a future franchise tackle, as long as he tacks on more weight. Las Vegas needs another bookend for the line opposite Kolton Miller.
Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson*
The Vikings had one of the worst run defenses in the NFL last season and didn’t draft a defensive tackle this year, and Dalvin Tomlinson is entering the final year of his contract. Bresee suffered a torn ACL in September, but he’s primed to return for a big 2022 campaign.
Noah Sewell, ILB, Oregon*
The brother of 2021 first-rounder Penei Sewell, Noah Sewell can impact multiple areas of the game. The 6-foot-3, 251-pound linebacker had 110 tackles, four sacks and six pass breakups last season. And the Patriots are still looking for a leader in the middle of their defense.
Myles Murphy, DE, Clemson*
The Dolphins tied for fifth in sacks last season and just re-signed Emmanuel Ogbah, but Murphy would be another playmaker off the edge who can get home on opposing QBs. He has 11.5 sacks over two seasons at Clemson and looks like a future impact player at the next level.
Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame*
Mayer finished his sophomore season with 71 catches (third among tight ends) and 840 receiving yards (fourth). He has tremendous 6-foot-4, 251-pound size and good hands. The Titans would love a playmaking tight end like Mayer for quarterback Ryan Tannehill — or Malik Willis, should the Titans make that move going into 2023.
Derick Hall, DE, Auburn
Hall broke out in 2021, recording nine sacks and 13 tackles for loss in his first season as a full-time starter. Will he take another step in 2022? The Colts are coming off a 33-sack season, and while they traded for Yannick Ngakoue and should see more from Kwity Paye in his second year, you can never have enough productive pass-rushers.
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas*
Zero running backs were taken in Round 1 this year, but I expect we’ll return to seeing at least one come off the board on Day 1 next April. After going cornerback earlier, Philly could look to spark the run game here. At 6-foot and 214 pounds, Robinson is a unique talent both as a runner and receiver. He piled up 1,127 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns last season, but he also caught 26 passes for 295 yards and four more scores. Miles Sanders is entering the final year of his current deal, and the Eagles played their best football last season when they leaned on the run.
Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah*
Phillips is already a two-year starter, and he broke up 12 passes last season. Arizona’s cornerback room has holes, and that’s before factoring in that Byron Murphy Jr. is entering the final year of his contract.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU*
Everyone loved the Ravens’ 2022 draft, but remember that they traded away Marquise Brown, leaving Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay as their top two wide receivers. Boutte is a top-15-caliber prospect who had nine touchdown catches in six games last year before a leg injury ended his season.
Trenton Simpson, ILB, Clemson*
The Bengals drafted a pair of versatile defensive backs in the first two rounds this year, and they spent on the offensive line in free agency. If the fixes prove effective, one area they could instead look at in 2023 is linebacker. Simpson had 63 tackles and six sacks last season, and he can drop in coverage.
BJ Ojulari, DE, LSU*
We already got Houston a quarterback, so how about a high-end edge rusher for new coach Lovie Smith’s defense? I love Ojulari’s burst and bend off the edge.
Henry To’oTo’o, ILB, Alabama
The Cowboys just used a fifth-rounder on linebacker Damone Clark, who will miss 2022 because of a back injury but should be ready to roll in 2023. Even so, adding another top-flight linebacker could help free up Micah Parsons in a more versatile role in which he thrives. To’oTo’o made 106 tackles last season.
Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State*
At 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, Porter has size on the outside and some versatility, though he has only one career interception. I like the upside of defensive backs Coby Bryant and Tariq Woolen, midround picks for Seattle this year, but the Seahawks really need a potential star to improve this pass D.
Zion Nelson, OT, Miami*
I actually had Nelson in my way-too-early mock this time last year, and he’s back again after opting to return to Miami. Nelson has 33 starts and could be the answer opposite Rashawn Slater on the Chargers’ offensive line.
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama*
Gibbs was a hidden gem at Georgia Tech, and now I expect him to explode onto the national stage after transferring to Alabama. His pass-catching ability out of the backfield will get a lot of attention. Pairing Gibbs with Chase Edmonds (Myles Gaskin and Raheem Mostert are under contract for only 2022) would give Miami a very strong rushing attack.
Tony Grimes, CB, UNC*
Grimes has 6-foot-1 size and good speed, and he broke up seven passes last season. A duo of Grimes and Jeff Okudah should help turn things around for Detroit’s lackluster pass defense.
Emil Ekiyor Jr., G, Alabama
We’ll see how Green Bay’s moves at wide receiver play out; if quarterback Aaron Rodgers can’t find a reliable target this year, the Packers might be looking for a first-round pass-catcher next April. Another way to help Rodgers? Drafting Ekiyor, a versatile lineman with 28 starts under his belt.
Nolan Smith, OLB, Georgia
The 6-foot-3, 235-pound defender’s sack production isn’t overwhelming (3.5 in 2021 and 8.5 over three seasons), but he forced three fumbles last year and has a lot of upside. I’m excited to see what he can do in 2022 with much of the Georgia defense heading to the NFL. Smith could help the Chiefs keep the AFC West’s talented quarterbacks in check.
Josh Downs, WR, UNC*
Downs is an explosive route runner who caught 101 passes for 1,335 yards last season and excelled after the catch. He’d be dangerous in Tampa Bay’s offense. Also keep an eye on the QB situation here; the Buccaneers could potentially turn to Kyle Trask or sign a free agent if Tom Brady retires after the 2022 season, but they could also focus on the draft class for a replacement.
Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma*
Another year, another loaded wide receiver class. Mims is undersized at 5-foot-11 and 177 pounds, and he hasn’t caught more than 37 passes in a season. But his 22.0 yards per reception ranked third in the nation last season, and he’d be yet another target for quarterback Josh Allen.
Parting ways with defensive coordinator Todd Grantham didn’t solve all of the Florida Gators’ problems.
Six days after coach Dan Mullen announced that Grantham was let go, the Gators gave up 42 points in the first half — the most Florida had ever allowed in the first two quarters — to FCS program Samford on Saturday.
The Gators pulled away in the second half for a 70-52 victory at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
“I’m an offensive guy, so I love scoring points,” Mullen told reporters Saturday. “Obviously, I don’t love giving up points, but love scoring points. Offensively, we needed guys to step up and guys to execute, and I think we did that today. I think our guys came out and executed. It ended up being a little shootout back-and-forth, and our offense kept responding and making plays.”
Added Mullen: “Calling a win disappointing is disrespectful to the game and our players.”
The Bulldogs, who haven’t beaten an SEC opponent since 1934, had 530 yards of offense, including 416 passing. They scored on five of their first six possessions to take a 42-35 lead at the half.
It was the most points ever scored by an FCS team against an SEC opponent, and it tied for the most ever allowed by a Power 5 team against such an opponent since the FBS/FCS split in 1978. Eastern Washington matched Samford’s scoring total in a 59-52 loss to Washington in 2014.
“One, you have to give [Samford] some credit,” Mullen said. “They are a team who is going to score points and throw the ball all over the place within their style. The biggest one, if there is disappointment in some of our guys, are the opportunities to make plays that they didn’t make. You know, there were a couple of missed tackles, a couple opportunities for sacks that we didn’t make, we ended up with penalties. … We have to get that cleaned up.”
Linebackers coach Christian Robinson was directing Florida’s defense for the first time on Saturday. Mullen also fired offensive line coach John Hevesy after last week’s embarrassing 40-17 loss at rebuilding South Carolina. Graduate assistant Mike Sollene was promoted to replace Hevesy for the remainder of the season.
“I thought they handled it really well,” Mullen said. “I met with them a couple times and told them to relax and be themselves. You have a great opportunity, so go take advantage of it. Don’t go out there and try to do too much. … Just be you. I just thought the two young guys today were really excited for that opportunity. They enjoyed it and found a way to win.”
According to research by ESPN Stats & Information, the Gators have allowed 175 points in their past four games, their most in a four-game stretch since 1917.
Florida’s woeful defensive performance sullied a brilliant outing by quarterback Emory Jones, who completed 28 of 34 passes for 464 yards with six touchdowns and ran for 86 yards with one score. Jones’ 544 yards of total offense surpassed the previous UF record of 533 yards set by Tim Tebow in his final college game, a 51-24 victory over Cincinnati in the 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
“Just get guys together and just let them know that we have to go score every drive,” Jones said. “That’s what we planned on doing anyways. Just keeping that mindset and just trying to be on attack every drive and going out there and executing. It worked out for us.”
Just when it looked like Georgia could finally surpass Alabama at the top of the college football Power Rankings, the Crimson Tide made another statement this season.
The Bulldogs kicked off the day with another top-10 victory, this time a 37-0 rout against No. 8 Arkansas in Athens, and looked like the best team in the country on their way to a 5-0 record. The shutout was the second straight for the Georgia defense, and the unit has allowed only one team to score double digits this season.
After seeing what the Bulldogs did in the early window, the Crimson Tide flexed their muscle over Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss squad. Alabama jumped out to a 28-point lead at halftime and rolled to a 42-21 victory to maintain its top position in the rankings.
Losses from last week’s No. 3 (Oregon), No. 7 (Arkansas), No. 9 (Florida), No. 10 (Notre Dame) and No. 11 (Ole Miss) shook up the Power Rankings this week, and we’re just in the first week of October. With only two dominant teams at this point, the rankings should be chock full of chaos moving forward.
The action of Week 5 is in the books. It’s time to take a look at college football’s Power Rankings.
Don’t look now but Alabama’s defense might be back. Ole Miss entered Tuscaloosa with arguably the best offense and the best quarterback in college football, and came away with next to nothing. Lane Kiffin’s Rebels didn’t find the end zone until the third quarter, and by then the game was well in hand. Phil Mathis, Will Anderson and the Bama front seven shut down the Ole Miss running game and made quarterback Matt Corral work for everything he got, which wasn’t much. Throw in the hard-nosed running of Brian Robinson and it looked like an old-school victory for Alabama. — Alex Scarborough
Whether it’s Stetson Bennett at quarterback or JT Daniels at quarterback, Georgia just keeps rolling. And why not with a defense that has been an absolute brick wall this season? Bennett started in place of the injured Daniels, and Georgia built a 24-0 halftime lead Saturday and cruised to a 37-0 shutout of Arkansas. The running game did most of the damage for Georgia, which finished with 273 rushing yards. With a little more than two minutes left in the first quarter, Georgia had 21 points to Arkansas’ 1 yard of total offense. Through five games, the Dawgs have yet to allow a touchdown in the first three quarters, and the only two fourth-quarter touchdowns they’ve given up came long after the outcome had been decided. — Chris Low
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The Bulldogs go up by three touchdowns in the first quarter and cruise to a 37-0 victory over the Razorbacks in the showdown of unbeatens.
In a 51-14 victory, the Hawkeyes cruised to their first conference road win of the season, avoiding any threat of an upset from unranked Maryland on Friday night before a nationally televised audience. Maryland played a mistake-laden game, littered with seven turnovers and 10 penalties, and the opportunistic Hawkeyes capitalized on all of it. Iowa outscored Maryland 31-0 in the second quarter, and recorded four interceptions in the first half. Iowa continued to lean on its running game, led by Tyler Goodson, who was also valuable as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, but the Hawkeyes were able to mix it up offensively against a one-dimensional Maryland team that couldn’t get out of its own way. — Heather Dinich
The Nittany Lions are the first team to start a season 5-0 after starting the previous season 0-5 since Tennessee did it in 1989. Penn State shut out Indiana for the first time in its 24-0 win Saturday. There was a little bit of everything for Penn State with three passing touchdowns, an interception and a blocked field goal. Jahan Dotson added two more receiving touchdowns to his season total and now has a touchdown catch in six straight games. The offense had six players with at least one carry for a total of 199 yards on the ground, as well. — VanHaaren
Luke Fickell’s team highlighted early-season road trips to Indiana and Notre Dame and passed both tests. Cincinnati’s signature defense led the way against the Fighting Irish, forcing three first-half turnovers and flashing outstanding technique in the secondary. The defense bought enough time for quarterback Desmond Ridder and the downfield passing attack to get going. Ridder led a clutch 75-yard touchdown drive and finished with 297 pass yards and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). The Bearcats became the first Group of 5 team in the College Football Playoff era to record a road win against an AP top-10 team from the Power 5. Let the playoff buzz grow. — Adam Rittenberg
The Sooners got a 37-31 road win against a K-State team that beat them the past two seasons, and Spencer Rattler was ultra-efficient, completing 22 of 25 passes and leading the Sooners to scores on seven of their nine possessions in the game (and one of those ended in a victory formation). Overshadowed in concerns about OU’s struggles — four of the Sooners’ first five wins by were seven points or fewer for the first time in school history — is that the Sooners have now won 13 straight. And their coach knows how to win: It was Lincoln Riley’s 50th win in 58 games with only Barry Switzer (56) and Bud Wilkinson (57) reaching 50 victories faster at OU. — Dave Wilson
The last time the Wolverines were in Madison, in 2019, it was for a 35-14 blowout by Wisconsin in which the Badgers had 359 rushing yards. This time, it was Michigan’s defense that did the dominating, holding Wisconsin to only 43 rushing yards and 167 passing yards in the 38-17 win. Michigan has taken some criticism for relying on the run this season, and while the passing game was not perfect against the Badgers, quarterbacks Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns with three completions going for over 30 yards. This was supposed to be Michigan’s first big test, and it passed with flying colors. — VanHaaren
The Ducks aren’t completely out of playoff contention after losing 31-24 to Stanford in overtime, but that’s no longer a scenario worth discussing. Since its impressive win at Ohio State, Oregon — over a span of three games — has gotten progressively worse. The Ducks were outgained last week against lowly Arizona and came out completely flat against Stanford, falling behind 17-7 at halftime. They showed some heart and played well in the second half, but it was ultimately rendered meaningless. — Kyle Bonagura
A week’s worth of rest did quarterback C.J. Stroud well. He threw for 330 yards and five touchdowns in a 52-13 win over Rutgers after taking a week off to nurse a shoulder injury. The offense had help on the ground, as well, with 210 yards rushing and one touchdown in the game. It wasn’t just the offense that was able to put points on the scoreboard, either, as freshman corner Denzel Burke had a pick-six in the victory. The Ohio State defense was able to force three interceptions in total and allowed only two touchdowns. Nearly everything went right for the Buckeyes in this game, and Rutgers was never able to make it close. — VanHaaren
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C.J. Stroud lights up Rutgers with five touchdowns to help Ohio State cruise to a win.
Michigan State remained unbeaten with a mostly easy 48-31 win over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. The major difference: The Spartans had Jayden Reed, and WKU didn’t. The junior playmaker scored on an 88-yard punt return and a 46-yard pass in the first quarter and finished with 134 yards from scrimmage in just five touches. Throw in Kenneth Walker III (126 rushing yards) and Jalen Nailor (128 receiving yards), and MSU just had too many playmakers for the WKU defense. The Hilltoppers made the Spartan defense work for 60 minutes, scoring two late touchdowns to briefly cut the lead to 14, but the outcome was never in doubt. MSU is 5-0 for the first time since 2015. — Bill Connelly
Despite the absence of starting quarterback Jaren Hall and other significant injury concerns, the Battle for the Old Wagon Wheel wasn’t much of a battle. BYU controlled the game from start to finish to beat Utah State 34-20. That was largely thanks to running back Tyler Allgeier, who rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. He alleviated the pressure on Baylor Romney, who started in place of Hall for the second straight week, and then third-stringer Jacob Conover came in after Romney exited due to injury. — Bonagura
During the month of September, Arkansas was the most physical team when it stepped onto the field, particularly in wins over Texas and Texas A&M. But on Saturday at Sanford Stadium, the Hogs were no match for a Georgia team playing as well as anybody in the country in a 37-0 loss. The Hogs were rattled early by the crowd noise — committing back-to-back false-start penalties after Georgia had scored on its first possession — and for the rest of the first half, Arkansas was saddled with terrible field position. Georgia led 21-0 before the end of the first quarter, the third touchdown coming on a blocked punt. But to the Hogs’ credit, they kept fighting, made some adjustments and hung in there on defense. Offensively, they simply couldn’t get anything going and managed just five first downs through the first three quarters. — Low
Another week and another close Kentucky Wildcats game that could’ve gone either way. But, for the Wildcats, they’ve gone only one way this season, and that way is wins. The Wildcats outscored Florida 13-3 in the second half to rally for a 20-13 win and hand their division rival another loss this season. Kentucky has LSU next week before a big matchup against Georgia in Athens on Oct. 16 for control of the SEC East. — Shea Carlson
After last season’s barn burner in Oxford, Lane Kiffin told Nick Saban he’d kept a notebook of every play that gave Alabama trouble during his three seasons as offensive coordinator, using them to help Ole Miss rack up the most yards ever against a Tide defense. Well, it appears that Saban is good at taking notes, too. Saban’s Alabama defense had an answer for almost everything Kiffin, quarterback Matt Corral and Ole Miss threw at it on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, not allowing the Rebs to find the end zone until the third quarter when the game was already well in hand. — Scarborough
Jamey Chadwell’s Chanticleers kept on cruising with a 59-6 destruction of Louisiana Monroe. Grayson McCall was a perfect 13-for-13 for 212 yards and two touchdowns; Coastal outgained the Warhawks 351-99 in the first half and cruised to a 38-3 halftime lead. The backups took it from there — McCall didn’t take a single snap in the second half. The Chants moved to 5-0 with four wins by at least 27 points, and they could get another big win against Arkansas State next week. But everything’s steaming toward what could be an incredible midweek Sun Belt clash when Coastal visits 4-1 Appalachian State on Oct. 20. — Connelly
The obvious flaws finally caught up to Notre Dame, which fought hard but couldn’t overcome three first-half turnovers and some big plays allowed on defense against Cincinnati. Drew Pyne might be the team’s best option at quarterback behind a shaky offensive line, as he sparked the team in the second half against Cincinnati despite completing only 9 of 22 pass attempts. Notre Dame’s defense kept the game close for a while but ultimately couldn’t make enough stops against Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce and others. The loss almost guarantees Notre Dame won’t be headed back to the playoff, and a tough stretch continues next week at Virginia Tech. — Rittenberg
The Cowboys held Baylor to 10 first downs, 107 rushing yards (it was averaging 272) and 280 total yards but led just 17-14 in the fourth quarter because quarterback Spencer Sanders threw three interceptions. Doesn’t matter, because the Cowboys are 5-0 and the defense continues to impress, holding a Baylor offense that was averaging 43 points per game to 14. OSU has allowed more than 20 points just once this season, in a 28-23 win over Tulsa. — Wilson
Louisville provided the biggest test of the season for Wake Forest, but Nick Sciba made a field goal with 22 seconds left to lift the Demon Deacons to a 37-34 win and a 5-0 start. Despite a defense that looked shaky at times, Wake Forest made the key stops and plays with the game on the line late. Sam Hartman threw for 324 yards, while two receivers went over 100 yards — Jaquarii Roberson (135) and Taylor Morin (122). Wake Forest has scored 192 total points this season, the most in school history through its first five games. — Adelson
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Louisville Cardinals vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons: Full Highlights
With his job security under threat as Auburn’s starting quarterback, Bo Nix played one of his most memorable games, throwing for 255 yards and rushing for another 74 as the Tigers came from behind to beat LSU 24-19. His scrambling, gambling 24-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Fromm late in the first half gave the team life after an early 13-0 deficit, and his two third-down completions, plus a 44-yard run by Jarquez Hunter, set up the winning score, a 1-yard plunge by Hunter. Auburn stared down an aggressive opponent and a chaotic Death Valley environment to move to 4-1. Its reward: a visit from Georgia next week. — Connelly
Coach Dave Doeren knew this week would provide a huge challenge for his team, hoping to avoid a letdown after a big win over Clemson. Indeed, Louisiana Tech gave NC State everything it could handle, but the Wolfpack found a way in a 34-27 victory. The Wolfpack gave up 341 yards passing but also forced two turnovers, and that made a huge difference in the game. It was not the sharpest performance, but in the past this was the type of game NC State would lose. — Adelson
After the Gators nearly upset Alabama, it appeared they were poised for a breakthrough. Instead, they put together a dismal performance in a 20-13 road loss to Kentucky in which they were completely outplayed and outcoached. Most surprising, Florida had 15 penalties for 115 yards — including eight false starts — and that tells the story of the game in a nutshell. With two SEC losses, Florida faces a steep climb back to the conference championship game — especially with Georgia looming later in the month. — Adelson
The Sun Devils started the day as an unranked underdog, but after their 42-23 win against UCLA, they look more like the team to beat in the Pac-12. Jayden Daniels threw for 286 yards with a pair of touchdown passes to Ricky Pearsall (4 catches, 132 yards) as the Sun Devils capitalized on a number of explosive plays. ASU limited UCLA to just three second-half points to take control in the Pac-12 South. — Bonagura
The Mustangs kept rolling, beating South Florida 41-17 behind quarterback Tanner Mordecai’s four touchdown passes and 301 passing yards. When South Florida made it a tight game in the third quarter, SMU outscored it 24-7 to finish the game. Ten different receivers caught passes for SMU, and the Mustangs ran up 463 yards and moved to 5-0 for the third straight season under coach Sonny Dykes. — Wilson
The Longhorns exorcised a few demons on Saturday, winning their first game at TCU since 2013 as Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson has had Texas’ number, including with wins in the past two seasons. But this year, Texas put the ball in Bijan Robinson’s hands, and he set career highs with 35 carries for 216 yards and two touchdowns, and added two catches for 22 yards. Texas QB Casey Thompson didn’t light it up but was 12-of-22 for 142 yards and added a 41-yard run to win his third straight start. The Longhorns continue to make drives count, going 24-of-26 with 20 touchdowns in the red zone for the season. — Wilson
The Tigers were able to move the ball on Boston College but once again failed to put together sustained drives and score with any frequency. Still, they did enough to win 19-13 after recovering a fumbled snap deep in their own territory. If there was a bright spot, it was the way Clemson was finally able to run the ball — with 231 yards on the ground — its highest rushing total of the season. Though D.J. Uiagalelei threw for over 200 yards for the first time this season, he completed less than 50% of his passes and did not throw a touchdown. — Adelson
We’re already a full four weeks into the season. Seriously, where does the time go?
So far this Saturday, No. 12 Notre Dame has already taken care of business against No. 18 Wisconsin with a 41-13 win in Solider Field in Chicago. The only other game between ranked opponents is No. 7 Texas A&M-No. 16 Arkansas, and they’re competing in AT&T Stadium in Dallas. But we’re monitoring everything else going on and there is no shortage of highlights and drama.
Check out all the results, reaction and revelry from throughout the land.
Arkansas has rolled to a 3-0 start, blowing out Texas and rising to its best poll standing in five years. The ceiling seems awfully high for Sam Pittman’s Razorbacks, but life in the SEC West means the floor is always low, too. The reward for their newfound prowess: four consecutive games against teams ranked 18th or better in SP+ (and 23rd or better in the AP poll). Per SP+, their projected full-season schedule strength ranks first in FBS.
The Hogs are projected underdogs for six of their next eight games, and if they want to make something of their season beyond a “very encouraging 7-5,” this game is almost a must-win. And their defense will give them a chance. Read more from Bill Connelly’s Week 4 preview (ESPN+).
Full schedule: All teams | Top 25
Touchdown of the day
Jordan Addison is out here taking names and taking ankles.
Please keep this man in your thoughts 🪦 pic.twitter.com/oWFjlRVmiH
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 25, 2021
Time to celebrate
SMU tried to celebrate. The Mustangs really did. However, TCU wasn’t having it when they tried to plant their flag on the field.
TCU wasn’t about to let that SMU flag get planted 😂
pic.twitter.com/u7bciKeCrk
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 25, 2021
The Boston College fans were pretty hyped up about this win over Missouri.
Boston College students storming the field at Alumni Stadium after defeating Mizzou. pic.twitter.com/CByWGJjp0u
— Lila Bromberg (@lilabbromberg) September 25, 2021
This is the interception that sealed the win for the Eagles.
Even the Tigers’ social team had fun celebrating the win.
🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/3LZmQGLrLg
— BC Football (@BCFootball) September 25, 2021
The City of Fresno has declared this week “Fresno State Football and Quarterback Jake Haener Week.” There should be more of this around college football when a team majorly upsets someone like Fresno State did to UCLA last weekend.
After today’s @FresnoStateFB practice @MayorJerryDyer presented a proclamation in honor of Fresno State’s victory. This week is “Fresno State Bulldog Football and Quarterback Jake Haener Week” in the @CityofFresno.🐾👏 #GoDogs #PrideOfTheValley pic.twitter.com/9pQRHcFH8K
— City of Fresno (@CityofFresno) September 21, 2021
To read more about Haener’s unpredictable rise, check this out.
It’s a look
Talk about making an entrance.
Agent 0 pic.twitter.com/0FiWiRb9Be
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 25, 2021
Lane Kiffin got some shiny new plates. Please, never change.
Thanks for the new plates Cedric @AlabamaFTBL See ya next weekend @OleMissFB pic.twitter.com/TEvFB4bxPw
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) September 24, 2021
Introducing Jaxson Skywalker. Yeah, evidently Jaxson Dart has drawn inspiration from Star Wars in case you were wondering what the deal was with his eye black. Dart, however, is out indefinitely after having surgery to repair a meniscus injury.
The Force is strong with this one.@JaxsonDart’s eye black is Star Wars inspired. pic.twitter.com/1ONxoECei2
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) September 23, 2021
Stephen A. Smith is a man of his word. He lost a bet to Tim Tebow — he said Florida would lose by more than three touchdowns to Alabama last weekend, and he had to pay up.
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Stephen A. Smith shows up to First Take sporting a Florida Gators tie after losing a bet to Tim Tebow.
And it’s safe to say that the Gators loved this look on him.
Nice tie, Stephen A. #GoGators https://t.co/lQD73C8eUn
— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) September 24, 2021
There are lots of callbacks to movies this week, and Oregon is on trend with its Dark Knight threads.
Dark Knight.@OregonFootball uniforms for week 4. #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/WSGybvbO3N
— GoDucks (@GoDucks) September 24, 2021
Michigan State plays Nebraska, and the Spartans definitely had fun with this reveal in a cornfield.
Clash with the Cornhuskers 🌽 #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/VooyLsnqFD
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) September 23, 2021
And Memphis is definitely bringing some heat with its uniform combo.
— Memphis Football (@MemphisFB) September 23, 2021
For more on uniforms, check this out.
Scene in the stands
A full Soldier Field for Wisconsin-Notre Dame is a pretty sight.
That’s a lot of Red 😍 pic.twitter.com/RVlkyoo0X6
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) September 25, 2021
GameDay antics
Kevin Kelley doesn’t believe in punting, and, yes, you are reading those words correctly. It’s an unorthodox way of playing, but a fascinating one nonetheless. Read more about the Presbyterian head coach here.
He doesn’t believe in punting and has drawn praise from the likes of Bill Belichick.
No college program gave Kevin Kelley a chance until he followed his dreams and landed at Presbyterian College, one of the smallest and most-fiscally challenged schools in the FCS. pic.twitter.com/aPY8tBlbDf
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 25, 2021
And Lee Corso’s pick is …
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Lee Corso makes his headgear pick for No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 18 Wisconsin.
For all the best signs, check this out.
NIL deal of the week
Cade York is now “queso rich,” and it’s giving us all the “chocolate wasted” feels.
WE JUST SIGNED @YorkCade TO THE BOLDEST CONTRACT EVER. AND YOU COULD BE ROLLIN’ IN QUESO, TOO. CO-SIGN THE #VelveetaQuesoContract TO GET QUESO RICH, JUST LIKE CADE. https://t.co/xruO7mczhY pic.twitter.com/c7dq0hEhmp
— Velveeta (@EatLiquidGold) September 22, 2021
More must-see
Chris Tyree took this all the way back for the score.
🏡 TYREE TO THE HOUSE @chris_tyree4 takes the kick return 98-yards for the @NDFootball TD! pic.twitter.com/giCC6IwXXf
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 25, 2021
Slipped right on by.
Xavier Worthy REFUSED to be tackled 😤 pic.twitter.com/sMg1foMW3h
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 25, 2021
Georgia is running Vanderbilt out of the building.
😐 pic.twitter.com/x6Vlpv2gru
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 25, 2021
But, hey, at least the fans are still having some fun with it.
Never say superheroes aren’t real https://t.co/VOsFZly6cD
— Ryan McGee (@ESPNMcGee) September 25, 2021
For more on UGA’s shutout, check this out.
It’s definitely a bad idea to give Bijan Robinson any room.
play
0:24
Texas’ Bijan Robinson dodges defenders and turns on the jets for the 38-yard touchdown.
We’re seeing lots of pretty amazing grabs as of late, and this certainly falls into that category.
WHAT. A. CATCH! @tre11turner hauls in the TD and gives @HokiesFB an early 7-0 lead. 🦃
