Author: Andy Moore - @ajmoore21

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CFB 2022: Week 1 – Winners & Losers

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Well, that was an explosive week of action. From 120+ point games, to huge upsets and standout individual performances, week one didn’t disappoint.

The best thing about the NFL season starting after the college football season is that we get a weekend of non-stop action, five days straight and at the time of writing it hasn’t even finished yet.

As always there are three winners and three losers, however there could have been a lot more this weekend. So on the winners side, shout outs go to Old Dominion, Caleb Williams/Jordan Addision and Cam Ward amongst others.

Winners – Andy – @Ajmoore21 

Spencer Sanders, QB, Oklahoma State

The performance of a quarterback will, like it or not, nearly always impact the result of a team – everyone that watches football knows that. Well, Spencer Sanders is one of the most frustrating quarterbacks in college football. One week he’s firing on all cylinders, the next he’s turning the ball over and costing his team.

Maybe that is set to change in 2022. Sanders dragged his team to victory on Thursday night, setting a career high in passing yards and accounting for six of the Cowboys’ eight touchdowns. WIth 406 yards and four passing scores, Sanders was imposing through the air, but that shouldn’t take away from how improved he looked outside of the pocket. There was a clear sense that his awareness had improved, with the alarm in his head triggering on time and getting him away from the defender in order to make a play.

Clearly there’s a lot of belief in OSU and Sanders this season, they wouldn’t have been ranked 12th in the preseason poll if that wasn’t the case. But after Central Michigan put up 44 points on the OSU defense, it would be reasonable to question whether it’s going to have to be the Texas native that propels his team to success in a soon-to-transform Big12. 

Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs weren’t disrespected after their National Championship win, but it seems those that doubted whether they’d be the same dominant team in 2022 did at least do them a disservice.

In a game that was previewed by many as a battle of two respective football powerhouses, it certainly felt over after the first quarter. Georgia’s defense was dominant from the off, even with their former Defensive Coordinator standing on the opposite touchline, they never looked in any danger of being mismatched. Bo Nix was shaky, even by his standards, but that was mainly because of the work of the Bulldogs’ secondary, covering the Ducks’ receivers like a blanket all game long.

Stetson Bennett has had more than his fair share of doubters, but if anyone still thinks he lacks the quality to win at this level, it was the passing game which impressed most in this one. Bennett passed for 368 yards and two scores before being hooked with the scoreline out of reach. If anyone thought that Kirby Smart’s men wouldn’t be in the mix come the end of the season then they should have been forced to change their opinion after this performance.  

Jacoby Windmon, LB, Michigan State

If Bennett and Georgia were dominant as a whole, then Jacoby Windmon gets the award for dominant performance by an individual. The Michigan State linebacker put up four sacks, a forced fumble and seven total tackles in the Spartans’ win over Western Michigan.

The most impressive element of Windmon’s night was that he put on such a huge show on his debut. After transferring from UNLV in the offseason, the former three-star recruit did everything he could to impress Mel Tucker, earning a starting spot in the process. The faith Tucker showed in him evidently paid off for him big time, as his explosive play made him a one man wrecking ball in the Broncos’ backfield.

At 6’2” and 229lb, Windmon is in that ideal linebacker category, sizewise. However, it was his speed and ability to anticipate the move of the lineman opposite that ensured he had so much success on Saturday night. Draft scouts and opposing Big10 Offensive Coordinators will surely have been put on high alert after week one. 

Losers – Lee – @Wakefield90 

The Pac-12

Even though we have all but drawn a line under week 1 of the college football season, we can pretty much rule out the Pac-12’s involvement in the college football playoff for another year.

The conference faces an uphill battle each year with the way that the conference and its teams are viewed in the eyes of the playoff committee, as well as the majority of the college football community. Add that to the absolute bludgeoning the conference took in the offseason, with the imminent departures of USC and UCLA and the losses for Utah and Oregon this weekend really are compounding the misery out west.

Considering that the Utes and Ducks lost to SEC opposition, these results only take another step towards strengthening the grip that the SEC has grabbing a second playoff team this year.

Utah put up a fight, and only lost by virtue of a last minute, end zone interception so perhaps all isn’t lost and there’s still USC who have opened up the season 1-0 with their defeat of Rice, but let’s face it. It’s over. 

Big Ten Officials and UCLA Attendances

Staying with the theme of the summer and keeping the favour from above of the Pac-12 falling into deeper and deeper decline, let’s talk about buyer’s remorse.

As much as USC and UCLA are big brands, are they going to bring everything they can to the table… What I am talking about in particular is attendance and atmosphere.

I understand that the Big Ten wants the big schools to enhance its portfolio of name brands, but when fans turn on their TV, surely they want to see fans packing the stands and making a tonne of noise to support their teams?

Look at it. I guess it was only Bowling Green but when I think of the Big Ten fans, I think of Penn State white outs, I think of Wisconsin’s fans going crazy to Jump Around, I think of Iowa’s players and fans waving to the nearby children’s hospital and The Big House, holding more fans than any stadium can in the Western hemisphere. Does this look fit what the Big Ten is trying to achieve?

Steven here summed up Pac-12 thoughts quite nicely, I think.

Devin Leary and NC State

I’ve got to admit, I don’t love this one and perhaps I only feel like Leary is a loser this week because of preseason expectations on him and the Wolfpack. It also doesn’t help their case when we consider that there was very little in the way of upsets in week 1.

NC State entered the season ranked #13 and Leary, one of the better draft eligible passers, was there to lead them, and as we have come to expect, ranked teams serve themselves up a nice, easy game in week 1.

The majority of these ranked teams dispatched their smaller foes with ease; #12 Oklahoma State, #10 Baylor, #14 USC, #16 Miami all had routine wins and ran up the scoreline.

Not NC State though. They faltered against an East Carolina side who stuck around and defended doggedly, with no bigger example than on this fourth down.

So why am I pinning this mainly on Leary? 

Well, if we look at the numbers first; a 51% completion percentage with a touchdown and an interception, against this level of competition just doesn’t look great.

Next, drawing a bank in the second half completely in terms of points, just allowed East Carolina to stick around and make life a little hairy. It’s just not what is expected for a thirteenth ranked team and a high-quality passer, so for falling short of expectations Leary and the Wolfpack find themselves in the losers column this week.

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2022 CFB – Week One Previews

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It’s finally here folks, the college football season in all of it’s alluring glory! Week zero was enjoyable for sure, but it was just the first tiny practice jump before a giant leap. 

There are so many enticing fixtures this week, with Georgia vs Oregon being one of the headliners. Thankfully, Will has already written a pretty in depth preview for that game, which is available here. Additionally, if you’re reading this on Thursday night you can read Andy’s Backyard Brawl preview here.

Without further ado, here’s the first full set of previews for 2022:

TCU @ Colorado  BT Sport

Saturday – 3am (UK) – Boulder, Colorado

Preview: One for the early birds on Saturday morning, TCU are a dark horse in the Big 12 this year and will look to get off to a good start against a fairly average Colorado team. Max Duggan looks like he will make his 30th start as a Horned Frog, but the week one depth chart lists him as an ‘OR’ alongside Chandler Morris. Head Coach Sonny Dykes anticipates playing both QBs in this one, but Duggan’s experience should give him the edge, especially if he can feast on a largely inexperienced Colorado secondary.

It’s not every year that the Buffalos manage to attract a transfer from Alabama to come to Boulder, but that’s exactly what happened when offensive lineman Tommy Brown joined the team this offseason. He’ll bring some four-star pedigree to the Colorado line as they look to keep Brendon Lewis or Jordan Shrout upright. Look for Alex Fontenont to be a threat on the ground. 

Key Matchup: Quentin Johnston (TCU, WR) vs Nikko Reed (Col, CB) – Quentin Johnson is the headline act on this TCU offense, he’s got all the makings of a high draft pick in 2023 and he’s absolutely dominant at the catch point. Nikko Reed is the best of a young Buffaloes secondary, but he figures to have his hands full this weekend.

Game Line: TCU 13.5 point favourite at the time of writing

Colorado State @ Michigan  BT Sport

Saturday – 5pm (UK) – Ann Arbor, Michigan

Preview: Sure, the game line for this one is big and Michigan should walk away victorious, but this could be a closer game that the bookies think. No-one really knows what to expect from Colorado State this season, they’ve got former Nevada Head Coach, Jay Norvell, at the helm and they’ve taken a hell of a lot of former Nevada players in the transfer portal. The most interesting duo are starting QB, Clay Millen, and deep threat, Tory Horton – look for those two to combine for a lot of yards this year.

On the Michigan side of things, there’s a lot that has stayed the same. Both QBs will play, Blake Corum will look to dominate in the run game and Ronnie Bell is always a threat. However, with Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo gone, it’ll be up to Jaylen Harell and Mike Morris to step up in the pass rush department. They’ll look to ease into 2022 and cause havoc for a new-look Rams defense.

Key Matchup: Dante Bivens (OT – CSU) vs Mike Morris (DE – Mich) – An offseason transfer from Tulsa, Bivens probably saw the week one matchup and rubbed his hands together at the chance of facing a high quality guy like Morris. This matchup will determine how quickly Michigan are able to get to ‘comfortable’ status in this one.

Game Line: Michigan 30.5 point favourites at the time of writing

UNC @ App State

Saturday 5pm (UK) – Boone, North Carolina

Preview: Set at one of, if not the most picturesque stadiums in the world of sport, this local rivalry game should be a close run thing. Our weekly feature looked at the debut of the Tar Heels’ new starting QB, Drake Maye, and it’ll be on him to continue the development of his relationship with star WR, Josh Downs, against a very solid App State side.

The Mountaineers gave Miami a run for their money last year, eventually succumbing to a two point defeat. This matchup doesn’t feel too dissimilar to that and the home side will be more than up for inflicting an upset. A talented stable of running backs will look to do the most damage for App State, so look for Camrun Peoples, Nate Nole and Ahmani Marshall to get the ball a lot. 

Key Matchup: Nate Noles (RB, App) vs Power Echols (LB, UNC) – There’s no doubting that App State’s backs will be a handful for UNC, but in Power Echols the Tar Heels have a disruptive ball magnet. Echols and his fellow linebackers will need to be at their best to limit the Mountaineers run game.

Game Line: UNC 1.5 point favourites at the time of writing

Cincinnati @ Arkansas

Saturday 8.30pm (UK) – Fayetteville, Arkansas

Preview: Both of these teams had very successful seasons in 2021 and this feels like a game which will establish if they can cope with off-season losses to the NFL Draft and continue that success. The Bearcats are yet to announce their QB for the game, but it’s looking increasingly like it’ll be Ben Bryant under centre. Despite the loss of two very good corners to the draft, Cincinnati still boasts an experienced secondary, if last year’s backups can step up, then Luke Fickell’s men stand a good chance in this game.

On the flip side, Arkansas will be without star receiver Treylon Burks in 2022. In Jadon Haselwood they have a decent replacement for the new Tennessee Titan, but Burks’ strength was his contribution all along the line of scrimmage as well as in the receiving game. There’s a lot of experience on this Razorback defense and it may prove a bit too much for a new look Bearcats offense.

Key Matchup: Jabari Taylor (DE, Cin) vs Luke Jones (LT, Ark) – KJ Jefferson does well when he’s outside the pocket, but against a good Cincinnati secondary he’ll need some time for his receivers to get open. Jabari Taylor is a big threat coming off the edge and Luke Jones will need to be at his best.

Game Line: Arkansas 6.5 point favourites

Utah @ Florida  BT Sport

Sunday – 12am – Gainesville, Florida

Preview: There’s a new dawn in central Florida this year, the Gators moved on from the old and welcomed Billy Napier and his coaching staff to Gainesville. However, a lot of the personnel still look the same for Florida, Anthony Richardson is being hyped as a possible top draft pick but without a lot of overhaul can this roster support him? Jason Marshall takes on a key role at corner after the departure of Kaiir Elam.

Utah come into the game as one of the favourites to emerge from the Pac-12 as a real threat in 2022. Cam Rising will look to exploit his fantastic connection with Brant Kuithe and Dalton Kincaid, whilst a very good defense will look to deal with the loss of Devin Lloyd and Nephi Sewell. If the Utes get up and running quickly, there’s every chance they could leave the East Coast with a statement win.

Key Matchup: Anthony Richardson (QB, FLA) vs Utah LBs – The Gators’ QB is light on his feet and likes to get out of the pocket, there’s every chance the Utes stack the box, but whether they can stop him is the big question.

Game Line: Utah 3 point favourite

Notre Dame @ Ohio State BT Sport

Sunday – 12.30am (UK) – Columbus, Ohio

Preview: A lot of people have got Ohio State playing Alabama for the National Championship at the end of the season. If that is to be the case then the Buckeyes have got to handle a tough opening day test against the Fighting Irish. CJ Stroud has got so many weapons at his disposal it is laughable, so expect a high scoring affair.

Notre Dame are entering a new era under Marcus Freeman and against lesser opponents there’s no doubt that they’ll be their normal defensively dominant selves. However, this week it feels like Tyler Buchner is going to have to lean on Michael Mayer and Chris Tyree a hell of a lot if the Irish are going to come out with a positive result.

Key Matchup: Notre Dame secondary vs Ohio State receivers – It could get ugly if the Buckeyes’ exceptionally talented receiver unit is allowed to run free. The likes of Clarence Lewis, Cam Hart and Brandon Joseph have all got big games in them, but can they all have them on the same night? It’ll be blockbuster viewing.

Game Line: Ohio State 17 point favourites

Florida State vs LSU

Monday – 12.30am (UK) – New Orleans, Louisiana 

Preview: The neutral site matchup which isn’t a neutral site, showcasing college football scheduling at its best. LSU will have a ridiculous amount of support at this game, and everyone knows the Tigers’ faithful create a good atmosphere. Whether their team will match the atmosphere is a big question mark. The LSU roster has talent all over it, Kayshon Boutte is the best receiver in the country at present and Ali Gaye looks primed for a monster season at defensive end. Brian Kelly’s ability to put it all together will be the key to the Tigers’ season.

Whilst some FSU fans were probably looking nervously towards this fixture a few weeks ago, the Seminoles’ domination in their week zero matchup may have instilled some confidence. The Noles’ had three running backs go for more than 100 yards and Jordan Travis looked solid with his deep ball before being hooked later in the game. However, LSU are a much harder opponent for FSU to test themselves against and they’ll have to be firing on all cylinders if they’re to extend their 7-2 series lead.

Key Matchup: Kayshon Boutte (WR, LSU) vs Omorion Cooper (CB, FSU) – Keeping Boutte relatively quiet will be the priority for FSU’s defensive staff. It’s easier said than done, but Cooper is an adept player that has seen more than his fair share of quality receivers in the ACC.
Game Line: LSU 3 point favourites

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2022 CFB: Drake Maye Teases Potential in Debut – Jake Tweedie

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Last month we took a dive into the ACC Quarterbacks of 2022, detailing their attributes and projecting how they would get on. At the time of writing it appeared that UNC were torn between Jacolby Criswell and Drake Maye, they both played bit part roles last year behind Sam Howell, and there were plenty of questions around who would lead the Tar Heels into the 2022 regular season.

The build-up to last weekend’s game saw Drake Maye named as starting quarterback. It was just six days before the Week 0 clash with Florida A&M. UNC were billed as 44-point favorites leading up to the game, and despite a sluggish show on defense, Maye showcased what he had to offer by leading them to a 56-24 victory.

Who is Drake Maye?

Maye left Myers Park High School as a four-star prospect after being named MaxPreps North Carolina Player of the Year, initially committing to Alabama. However, he later decommitted from the Crimson Tide and pledged himself to the University of North Carolina. His decision was likely based on Bryce Young’s presence, with Maye seeing his chances of playing time limited by the dominant five-star signal caller. It’s also worth noting that playing in Chapel Hill meant that Maye could play in front of his friends and family in his native Carolina.

Although the move to UNC was initially difficult, given the presence of Sam Howell, Maye now has every chance of being the long term starting quarterback for the Tar Heels. Especially if his debut is the sign of things to come.

Impressive Debut

Maye’s debut for the Tar Heels has made waves in the national media. He was ranked number one in Athlon Sports’ list of the best debuts for quarterbacks in week 0, earning high marks for such a composed and commanding performance.

The debut was also record breaking, Maye’s five touchdowns in his debut game set a new UNC programme best as he finished an impressive 29 of 37 passes complete, 294 yards and no INTs. However, his play also allowed a running game that picked up 314 yards as the A&M defense threw everything at the passing game.

He targeted ten different receivers, albeit relying a bit more on Josh Downs, hitting the wide receiver nine times for 78 yards and two touchdowns, but overall he worked the field without hitting any big downfield passes. His longest reception was for 33 yards, but it was an assured performance which will have excited the Tar Heels’ fans.

Not to be limited to just the pass, Maye also showed some positivity on the ground. He picked up 55 yards from four carries, including a nice 42-yard run in the first quarter that would have settled the nerves. 

Performance Report

For a player that stands at 6’5, 220 pounds, Maye’s footwork in the open field was mesmerising from the off, pushing him all the way to the FAMU 19 yard line, where he then found Kamari Morales in the end zone to make a 19 yard completion and the opening touchdown.

He looked nimble on his feet, and shifted his body weight with ease and composure. This enabled him to avoid a few tackles, as he used his body to pick up an extra three or four yards after first impact down the sideline. It was just an early indication of what he can do with the ball when options are limited down the field, and he looked assured throughout his run. 

From a throwing perspective, the opening touchdown was exactly what the UNC faithful wanted to see. Maye had a defender running at him, threw it slightly off balance over two defenders to find Morales in the end zone. He used all his height to loop it over the defenders but he did so quickly and effectively.

The first two scores of the game saw him manage the pocket beautifully, showing off nice composure and finding the open receiver for the second touchdown. However, his third touchdown was more impressive. He was pressed and forced out of the pocket around the 10-yard line, went left and found the open receiver in the end zone. Another demonstration of how he can adjust to what is going on but also showcase what he can do with his feet.

Opposition defenses will surely already be worried, as Maye showed that anything around the 20-30 yard line could easily wind up with a receiver catching the ball in the end zone. Three times from an open pocket he waited for the opportune moment and released the pass beautifully into the hands of his receiver. 

Overall Perception

There’s no doubt that Maye had a highly productive day at quarterback for UNC. He looked assured within the pocket, but he also showed what he can do with his feet when pressured into moving outside of it. His three touchdown passes to the end zone were perfect, timing the pass beautifully with the runs of the receivers whilst also showing composure when pressed into making something happen away from the designed play.

It was the perfect debut for the redshirt freshman, and there is little doubt he will show the same ability in the next couple of games before a tough run of games from week four onwards.

With Notre Dame, Miami (FL), Pittsburgh and Wake Forest all to come before the end of the season, it will be very interesting to see how he adapts to stronger opponents, but from what we saw in Week 0, Drake Maye is one to watch for 2022.

By Jake Tweedie – @AccukAnalysis1

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2022 CFB: West Virginia Mountaineers @ Pitt Panthers Preview

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After a weekend of football that more than wet the appetite, it feels like the real fixtures are here as we approach week one.

Later this week you’ll be able to read a wider preview of some of the key games, but after Will previewed Georgia’s matchup with Oregon it felt necessary to preview the Backyard Brawl as well.

For those wondering, the game gets its name given the proximity of the two schools, Morgantown sits a mere 70 miles from Pittsburgh and the Panthers’ campus. It’s the American equivalent of a local derby, and there’s certainly no love lost between the fanbases.

West Virginia will be looking to continue their recent (well 2009-2011) series dominance, they’re on a three game win streak against the Panthers and they’re 7-3 over the last 10 games. Coming into 2022 they’ve also got a new QB and a new Offensive Coordinator in JT Daniels and Graham Harrell. At USC Harrell embraced an air raid scheme that played to his tendency to throw the ball all over the park, however he failed to complement that with an effective running game – putting the pressure on an often beleaguered QB. That scheme may become even more aggressive this season, and it’s not a stretch to see the Mountaineers embracing the spread offense.

If Harrell’s offense is going to succeed on Thursday night it’ll be because of the play of Daniels. The big-armed transfer is now on his third team, never quite sticking long enough to become the star his talent has teased. His supporting cast is strong, with the highly touted Kaden Prather accompanying established receivers Sam James and Bryce Ford-Wheaton in an explosive position room. Look for the deep ball to be mixed in early and often if WVU’s offensive line can contain an impressive Pitt defensive front.

The Mountaineers defense ranked a respectable 37th in the nation in 2021, whilst not stacked with big draft prospects there are still a number of standout players. Dante Stills is the catalyst up front, he should combine with Taijh Alston to cause trouble for Pitt’s offensive line and Kedon Slovis. In the secondary Charles Woods is the mainstay, using his experience and impressive playmaking ability to make things difficult for opposition QBs, he’ll be relied on to limit Jared Wayne and co.

Pitt are heavily favoured to win on Thursday and the level of talent and experience across their roster is seemingly greater than the Mountaineers. Defensively, they should pose issues for a shaky WVU offensive line – particularly in the form of Habakkuk Baldonado, the 6’5” Italian pass rusher that was dominant in 2021. If the ball makes its way past the defensive line, then an imposing secondary is supplemented by one of the best linebacking corps in the ACC. Daniels will need to be at his best to put points on the board.

The question mark, and it is a pretty big question mark, for the Panthers this year is just how good Kedon Slovis actually is. At USC he flashed brilliance in his first season, but then poor decision making and injuries hampered his development, eventually leading to his transfer. If he can form a connection with the aforementioned Wayne, as well as Jaden Bradley and Konata Mumpfield, then there’s every possibility that draft scouts will start to take an interest again. Israel Abanikanda is a relative unknown in the backfield, but Slovis will be hoping he provides better support on the ground than some of his former USC teammates. 

The bookies have Pitt 7.5 point favourites for this one. That does feel about right, but the script could easily flip depending on how Daniels comes out of the blocks in Harrell’s offense. Either way, it should be a great game to get week one underway.

By Andy Moore – @ajmoore21 

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CFB 2022: Georgia vs Oregon Preview – Will Lane

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Week 1 is finally here, and what better way to start off the new season than with a matchup between the defending champs and a very competitive Oregon team. A lot of stories have developed on both sides over a long offseason, with questions that will undoubtedly be answered over the coming weeks. 

Many have their concerns about Georgia, a roster that seemed to be picked apart by the NFL Draft not too long ago. But the Bulldogs aren’t going away anytime soon, the star studded roster has possibly the best defensive tackle in Jalen Carter, alongside names such as LB Nolan Smith and CB Kelee Ringo. On offense teams will still have to worry about TE Brock Bowers and Center Sedrick Van Pran, both of which are at the top of their respective positions. 

Will Oregon have enough names of their own to keep up with the defending champs? The talent is definitely there to keep this an interesting one. The Ducks are coming off a somewhat successful 10-4 campaign, and are entering the 2022 season as a contender out West. It was just last year that they pulled off a major early-season upset against Ohio State who were ranked #3 at the time. 

Oregon is entering this game with one of the most talented offensive lines that Georgia will see all season. Who will be under center is still a bit of a mystery as former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix has been battling it out with red-shirt freshman Ty Thompson. This vital question may not be answered until game time, so it is definitely something to keep an eye out for. The defense is led by linebacker Noah Sewell, who excels at patrolling the middle of the field, he has the size and the ability to be an NFL linebacker, running a 4.60 second 40-yard dash. His game will only show improvement under the coaching of former Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, who just assisted Georgia in their run to end their 41-year National Championship drought. The Oregon defense will be looking to overwhelm quarterback Stetson Bennett who still has questions hanging over him, despite last year’s Natty.

Lanning is entering his first year in Eugene with an Oregon team that isn’t rebuilding, but a team that is looking to be taken to the next level under new leadership. Using the transfer portal early in the offseason, the new Head Coach looked to really strengthen the offense and bring in guys like four star receiver Chase Cota from UCLA and fellow pass catcher Caleb Chapman from Texas A&M. It feels only fitting that Lanning’s first matchup is against his former team, which is already setting us up for an exciting story. 

So what can fans expect from this game? Well, a lot of defense. Both sides are bringing high-powered units to this fight and will be looking to absolutely smother their opponents’ offense early. The Bulldogs will look to show no rust after a successful campaign in 2021 and will have to take over in the second half to assert their dominance if they want to win this one comfortably. As for Oregon, they need to get out to a lead early and let their defense work their magic. Will they have the offensive firepower to do so? Ducks fans are looking on with interest to see who the QB is before answering that, but either way they’re looking to soar to new heights in 2022.

By Will Lane – @TheWillieLane

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WEEK 0 – CFB WINNERS AND LOSERS

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College football is back, and so is our weekly look at who the biggest winners and losers of the weekend’s action were.

WINNERS

Ryan Hilinski

In a battle between two transfer QBs, many would have favoured Nebraska’s Casey Thompson to be the more impressive prospect against Northwestern’s Ryan Hilinski. For long periods of the first half that may have been the correct opinion as Thompson spread the ball around early and often.

However, it was Hilinski who ended up driving his team to their first win of the season with some consistent and accurate play. The backstory of the former South Carolina signal caller is beset with challenges. In the year prior to his collegiate career he was dealt a devastating blow as his older brother took his own life. Despite this, Hilinski was named the starter for his freshman season with the Gamecocks, before losing that role the following season.

Now, with less perceived pressure outside of the SEC and a season under his belt in Evanston, the California native has every chance of succeeding with the Wildcats.

Chase Brown

The University of Illinois doesn’t produce a lot of NFL talent, since 2019 only five players have been drafted after plying their trade at Memorial Stadium. Chase Brown is looking to buck the trend and become the next player on that list with a huge season for the Fighting Illini.

After one game it is certainly looking good for him. Against an average Wyoming side, Brown put up 151 yards and two scores on the ground, adding 16 yards and a touchdown through the air. It certainly looks like Brett Bielma will turn to Brown to be the difference maker after using him in a job-share role last season. 

Games against Indiana and Virginia will give the Canadian the chance to showcase his talent against higher quality opposition over the next two weeks. 

FSU’s RB Room

With the exception of the Nebraska-Northwestern game, the week 0 slate didn’t really throw up many close games. What it did offer was some of the better teams the chance to give their depth players some snaps.

FSU have always produced good players in the rushing department and with Jashaun Corbin leaving for the NFL, the starting gig appeared up for grabs. Mike Norvell will be presented with a good problem going into next weekend’s matchup with LSU as three Noles’ backs went for more than 100 yards on Saturday.

Treshaun Ward got the start, turning 14 carries into 127 yards and two scores, with power back Trey Benson and Lawrence Toafili each topping reaching triple figures and adding a score apiece. It may only have been Duquesne, but there’s some positive signs for the Seminoles ahead of their visit to New Orleans.

LOSERS

Scott Frost

Saturday’s defeat means that Nebrasksa have now lost 21 games by less than one score under Scott Frost. It’s hard not to feel a bit sorry for Frost given how different the outlook would be for him if even ten of those games had gone the other way.

However, that sympathy falls away given the proud boast that the Nebraska coaching staff had worked their offensive line so hard that they were vomiting multiple times a day. Maybe, given the outcome of Saturday’s game, Frost and his coaching staff should work on both their decision making and the mentality of their team. 

After starting the second half strongly, Frost opted to go for an onside kick to keep the ball in Casey Thompson’s hands. The plan failed, Northwestern got the ball back and from there the momentum stayed with Ryan Hilinski and co. 

Mike DiLiello

This one was not so much for the all round performance, but unfortunately for Mike DiLiello he became the first player to go viral this season. The Austin Peay QB threw a bad interception and proceeded to give his all to track down the Western Kentucky CB. Sadly it got worse for DiLiello as he stumbled and fell down in stages as the CB jogged in for the score.

Wyoming’s Passing Offense

It could be considered unfair to single out Wyoming for criticism, but given the small slate of games their offense is the third ‘loser’ this week. The Cowboys have produced some considerable talent over the years, including arguably the best QB in the NFL at present, Josh Allen.

However, it was a sorry showing for Craig Bohl’s men on Saturday as they managed just 30 yards through the air in the 38-6 defeat to Illinois. Utah State transfer, Andrew Peasley, got his first start in Wyoming colours, but it was a sorry performance as he averaged 1.5 yards per attempt with just five completions on 20 throws going for 30 yards. He’ll look to bounce back against Tulsa next week.

By Andy Moore – @ajmoore21

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Introducing: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

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When it comes to wide receiver talent, Boston College might be the last place you would expect to be hearing about. Yet heading into the 2022 College Football season, one of the best receivers in the game has flown under the radar, purely because the stat sheet isn’t the prettiest. 

Numbers never tell the full story, and there is a lot to uncover when it comes to Zay Flowers who had a season riddled with inconsistent quarterback play, and a system that really hasn’t figured out how to get the most out of him.

The 2021 season for Boston College did not go as planned. They came out the gates firing on all cylinders in the 51-0 stomping of Colgate, and the Eagles’ fans were salivating at the prospect of Flowers combining with Phil Jurkovec for a full season. The duo connected seven times for 135 yards and a touchdown. However, that combination would be short lived as BC lost Jurkovec for 6 games as he went down in their game against UMass with a hand injury. 

In their time away from each other, it was clear that the Golden Eagles filler at quarterback, Dennis Grosel, did not have the same connection with Flowers, missing him many times on routes where the receiver had created separation. It was clear they were just trying to get the ball in their star receivers hands as much as possible, but without the first choice QB the down field ball wasn’t having the same impact. Flowers found some success when taking hand-offs, with his highlight play coming against Temple where he broke away for a 47 yard run, but he simply didn’t have the consistency that was expected of him. 

Entering this season, Flowers is a day two pick who could really benefit from a full season with his quarterback. The only obvious drawback to his game is his slight frame, as the receiver is only 5’10 and weighs in at only 177lbs. This means that the bigger corners in the league may be able to throw him off his route at the next level, but the tape shows that he already holds his own quite well and still has plenty of time to put on some decent weight and muscle.

Playing to the Fort Lauderdale native’s advantage is his ability as a fluid athlete. His ability to turn up field and move the chains on a play that very easily could have resulted in nothing at all is something that can’t be ignored. It is probably what stands out the most when it comes to him as a receiver. The route running has seen improvement in Flowers’ time at Boston College, which one can only hope continues, as it isn’t the highlight of his game. 

When it comes to similarities, the name that will come up most is UNC receiver, Josh Downs. All offseason it has been about who has the edge on the other. But for a better comparison at the next level is Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Flowers weighs less than Cooks did in college, but both excelled at body control, quick feet, and the ability to track the deep ball.

By Will Lane – @TheWillieLane