We are officially back in the best of the year. We are guaranteed football five days a week.
Starting near the end of every long week of life, we come home from school or work on Thursday, catch the NFL Thursday Night Football game, return to a semi-normal day of life on Friday, then go to your local high school football game that night.
You wake up early on Saturday morning to catch College Gameday before watching hours of college football all day until you go to bed, taking breaks only to go to the bathroom during commercials or to convince a family member, likely also invested in the game, to go grab food.
On Sunday, you sleep in a little bit, tired from the late night before, then wake up to watch the noon game and keep your eyes glued to the TV until the end of Sunday Night Football.
Sadly, you must return to your boring everyday life the next day, but at the end of your horrible Monday you can watch the Monday Night Football game! You take a short two week break on Tuesday and Wednesday to catch up on the stories and gossip about each team, take some time to bench the player who will end up having five touchdowns in your fantasy football league, then repost your favorite team’s upcoming game graphic.
The best part is you get to do this again. And again. And again. Every week for the rest of the year until it gets even better, where there is football everyday with high school playoffs and college football bowl games.
In October, you can throw in the MLB playoffs and eventually the NBA season to offset your breaks from football. This is truly the most wonderful time of the year for sports fans.
West Virginia vs. 17 Pittsburgh
The opening game of Week 1 playing on Thursday night. Fans got to enjoy the Backyard Brawl between West Virginia at 17 Pittsburgh (Pitt). Pitt scored a field goal to take an early lead with less than a minute to go in the first quarter, but on West Virginia’s next drive Georgia transfer quarterback JT Daniels hit Bryce Ford-Wheaton for a touchdown. Pitt would eventually reclaim the lead before the half with a touchdown, but West Virginia kicked a field goal to tie the game at 10 heading into the half.
West Virginia’s defense came out hot at the half, holding Pitt to a three and out before blocking a punt to put their offense inside the red zone. West Virginia’s offense only need one play to score with as CJ Donaldson ran it in for a touchdown. Pitt soon scored two touchdowns on runs to take the lead, but JT Daniels threw another touchdown to tie the game at the end of the third, 24-24. West Virginia opened the fourth with a 1-yard touchdown run from Daniels, but Pitt tied the game again a few drives later with a 24-yard pass from Kedon Slovis for a touchdown. With less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter, JT Daniels’ pass got tipped and intercepted in the hands of M.J. Devonshire, who returned it for a 56-yard pick six to win the game for Pitt.
Notable Players:
West Virginia
JT Daniels- 23/40, 214 yds, 2 TD, -23 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 2 fum
CJ Donaldson- 7 car, 125 yds, 17.9 avg, 1 TD
Bryce Ford-Wheaton- 9 rec, 97 yards, 2 TD
Lee Kpogba- 10 tot, 5 solo
Jared Bartlett- 6 tot, 3 solo, 2 TFL, 1.5 sacks
Pitt
Kedon Slovis- 16/24, 308 yds 1 TD
Rodney Hammond Jr.- 15Â car, 74 yds, 2 TD 2 rec, 55 yds
Konata Mumpfield- 5 rec, 71 yds
Bangally Kamara- 8 tot, 6 solo
SirVocea Dennis- 7 tot, 4 solo, 1 sack
11 Oregon vs. 3 Georgia
Oregon traveled to Georgia for a top-15 matchup. Many expected this to be a really tight game going back and forth between both teams, however it was anything but that. Georgia came out blazing hot, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive with a 9-yard touchdown run from Ladd McConkey. On the next drive Bo Nix threw a pass intercepted by Malaki Starks. Georgia capitalized on this and scored on a Stetson Bennet 1-yard run for a touchdown. Bo Nix threw another interception, this time to Christopher Smith, who returned it 22 yards. Kenny McIntosh ran it in for a touchdown on the next Georgia drive. Oregon finally scored their first points of the game, a field goal from Camden Lewis, but it was soon followed by yet another touchdown from Stetson Bennett, making the game 28-3. Bennett had 262 yards alone in the first half while Oregon only had 183.
Georgia opened the second half with three straight touchdowns on their offensive drives, Oregon defense having no clue how to stop Georgia’s offense. Finally, with Georgia’s third strings in, Georgia punted for the first time in the fourth quarter. Oregon did not score a single time in the second half and the game finished 49-3. Georgia on top.
Notable Players
Oregon
Bo Nix- 21/37, 173 yds, 2 INT, 8 car, 37 yds
Terrance Ferguson- 4 rec, 37 yds
Jamal Hill- 11 tot, 9 solo
Justin Flowe- 10 tot, 5 solo, 1 TFL
Georgia
Stetson Bennett- 25/31, 368 yards, 2 TD, 2 car, 8 yds, 1 TD
Kendall Milton- 8 car, 50 yds, 1 TD
Kenny McIntosh- 9 rec, 117 yds. 5 car, 18 yds, 1 TD
Ladd McKonkey- 5 rec, 73 yds, 1 TD, 2 car, 16 yds, 1 TD
Malaki Starks- 8 tot, 5 solo, 1 INT
23 Cincinnati vs. 19 ArkansasÂ
The game opened with great defense on both teams opening drive, Arkansas being forced to punt on their first drive before Ben Bryant’s pass was picked off by Dwight McGlothern, who returned the interception for 51 yards. Arkansas seized the opportunity by scoring a touchdown in just three play, finishing with a 15-yard run from a Heisman favorite, KJ Jefferson. The defense stayed spectacular for the rest of the half, neither team scoring, including two missed field goal attempts from Cincinnati kicker Ryan Coe. On last drive of the half however, KJ Jefferson hit Trey Knox for a touchdown, putting Arkansas up 14-0 going into halftime.
The second half started with great offensive possessions from both teams, Cincinnati scoring on their opening drive with a Corey Kiner touchdown run. Arkansas responded with a touchdown of their own, but Cincinnati answered on their next possession with a three play drive ending in Ben Bryant’s 35-yard touchdown pass to Nick Mardner. The team seemed shook as KJ Jefferson fumbled on the first play of their next drive, and Cincinnati capped it off with field goal to make the game 21-17. Arkansas did their best to respond strongly but could only produce a field goal, keeping it a one score game. With ten minutes left in the fourth, Arkansas forced a Cincinnati fumble, and Arkansas led a drive with two passes from KJ Jefferson for 49 yards to score a touchdown. Cincinnati responded with a touchdown themselves, but it was not enough to win the game, giving Arkansas the win 31-24.
Notable Players
Cincinnati
Ben Bryant 26/41, 325 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT, 1 fum
Corey Kiner- 12 car, 59 yds, 1 TD
Tyler Scott- 5 rec, 77 yds
Ivan Pace Jr.- 12 tot, 6 solo, 1 sack, 3.5 TFL
Ja’quan Sheppard- 9 tot, 8 solo, 1 sacks, 1 TFL
Arkansas
KJ Jefferson- 18/26, 223 yds, 3 TD, 18 car, 62 yds, 1 TD, 2 fum
Raheim Sanders- 20 car, 117 yds, 3 rec, 12 yds
Trey Knox- 6 rec, 75 yds, 2 TD
Bumper Pool- 13 tot, 4 solo, 1 TFL
Jalen Catalon- 8 tot, 5 solo
7 Utah vs. Florida
Florida payed Utah $500,000 to come to Florida and play them, many of whom that it was a mistake leading up to the game. The game started with a touchdown from each team and finished with a field goal from Utah early in the second making the game 10-7 with Utah in the lead. Florida failed to score on their next drive while Jordan Noyes booted a field goal through again for Utah, extending the lead. The Gators then responded with a touchdown run from Anthony Richardson for 45-yards, giving Florida the lead 14-13 going into the half.
The second half started with a turnover on downs from Utah and a punt from Florida before things got interesting. Micah Bernard ran it in 7-yards for a Utah touchdown, however the 2-point conversion failed, giving Utah the lead 19-14. Florida responded with a 8 play drive for 75 yards capped off by run by Montrell Johnson Jr. for a touchdown. Tavion Thomas ran it in for 4 yards for a Utah touchdown on their next drive to give Utah the lead 26-22. Florida was not happy with the score however and went 75 yards downfield in 14 plays ending in an Anthony Richardson touchdown run with just over a minute in the fourth quarter. Utah tried desperately to come back as a loss would surely hurt their playoff chances. However, Cameron Rising’s pass was intercepted by Amari Burney to give Florida the win, 29-26.
Notable Players
Utah
Cameron Rising- 22/32, 216 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 7 car, 91 yds
Tavion Thomas- 23 car, 115 yds, 1 TD
Brant Kuithe- 9 rec, 105 yds, 1 TD
Cole Bishop- 12 tot, 7 solo, 0.5 TFL
R.J. Hubert- 8 tot, 7 solo, 2 fum rec
Florida
Anthony Richardson- 17/24, 168 yds, 11 car, 105 yds, 3 TD
Montrell Johnson Jr.- 12 car 75 yds, 1 TD, 1 rec, 14 yds, 1 fum
Trevor Etienne-Â 5 car, 64, yds, 6 rec, 41 yds, 1 fum
Trey Dean III- 12 tot, 6 solo, 1 TFL
Brenton Cox Jr.- 10 tot, 3 solo, 0.5 TFL
5 Notre Dame vs. 2 Ohio State
This game was probably the most anticipated matchup of the weekend as two top five teams, both teams likely to play for a playoff spot. Notre Dame came ready to fight with a big first drive finishing with a field goal from Blake Grupe. Notre Dame kept the hot streak alive forcing Ohio State to punt on their opening drive. Ohio State reversed the roles however, forcing Notre Dame to punt before scoring a touchdown themselves on a four play drive. Both teams punted again before Notre Dame scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run from Audric Estime to give Notre Dame a 10-7. The Fighting Irish would keep this lead going into the second half.
To open the half both teams punted twice before Ohio State on a 70 yard drive. The drive was completed with a C.J. Stroud pass to Xavier Johnson for a 24-yard touchdown, giving the Buckeyes a 14-10 lead. Notre Dame could not respond to this on the next drive and Ohio State capitalized on this with another touchdown run from Miyan Williams. The Buckeyes forced Notre Dame to punt on their final possession of the game, giving Ohio State the victory, 21-10.
Notable Players
Notre Dame
Tyler Buchner- 10/17, 177 yds, 11 car, 18 yds
Audric Estime- 9 car, 21 yds, 1 TD
Michael Mayer- 5 rec, 32 yds, 1 fum
Clarence Lewis- 7 tot, 6 solo,
Ohio State
C.J. Stroud- 24/34, 223 yds, 2 TD, 3 car, 1 yd
TreVeyon Henderson- 15 car, 91 yds
Miyan Williams- 14 car, 84 yds, 1 TD, 1 rec 12 yds
Emeka Egbuka- 9 rec, 90 yds, 1 TD
Tommy Eichenberg- 9 tot, 6 solo, 2 sacks, 3 TFL
Playoff Picture + Heisman
Here are my top four teams and first two teams out based on my opinions and the games they have played so far:
1 Alabama
2 Georgia
3 Ohio State
4 Texas A&M
5 Clemson
6 Michigan
Alabama is the clear 1 seed after their 55-0 blowout to Utah State. Their offense is stacked with weapons including last year’s Heisman winner and Heisman favorite this year Bryce Young. They showed no sign of weakness in the game.
Georgia moved up one spot in the rankings due to their demolition of 11 Oregon. Obviously their offense was firing on all aspects, only punting once all game. Their true strength though is their defense, allowing Oregon a mere three points all game. They were a team Coach Herman Boone would be proud of, as they were “perfect in all aspects of the game.”
Despite their big win against Notre Dame Ohio State dropped one spot purely because of Gerogia’s performance. If it wasn’t for Georgia’s domination Ohio State would be the 2.
Texas A&M is my four seed because of questions I have about Clemson. The Aggies had a solid win against Cupcake State, or Sam Houston State, whatever you want to call them, but that does not really mean much. There are still some questions to be answered after losing their quarterback, Zach Calzada, in his transfer to Auburn.
Clemson did played an alright game against Georgia Tech this week. DJ Uiagalelei still has to answer many questions people have about him, and many wonder if Cade Klubnik has the talent to take his starting spot, With the drama at the quarterback competition impacting the locker room, I think that Clemson deserves to drop a spot.
Michigan beat Colorado State. The Wolverines honestly probably could have been switched with either Oklahoma or Baylor, especially considering their quarterback situation. Many wonder how Jim Harbaugh’s strategy for determining his quarterback’s will pan out.
After this week, the clear Heisman favorite is Stetson Bennett who threw for over 350 yards in his game against Oregon. Some close seconds are Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, who both had very respectable games themselves. The last finalist I would have is KJ Jefferson, who brings the unique combination of a good passing yards with great rushing skills, however his rushing skills are absurd for a man of his stature.
Some outside Heisman favorites I have are Bo Nix and Jaxon Smith Njigba. Both had down games this week but I am confident both will bounce back. Lastly, I think TreVeyon Henderson and Blake Shapen are very dark horse candidates. Henderson is overshadowed by his own team, Stroud and Smith-Njigba, while Shapen’s chances are more dependent on how far he can take Baylor this year rather than his individual statistics.
Stay tuned to The Roundup for more college football news!
