Main query: Is Bryce Younger the Heisman front-runner?
Sure. Rivals nationwide recruiting director Adam Gorney informed SN this about Younger earlier this summer season: “He’s a dynamic playmaker and unimaginable decision-maker. He’ll run on the sphere and you’ll say ‘Wow, that child is small’ and he’ll go dominate.'”
That summed it up in a 44-13 blowout in opposition to No. 14 Miami in Atlanta. Younger appeared the half in yet one more neutral-site beatdown below Nick Saban. Younger completed 27 of 38 for 344 yards and 4 TDs in a formidable debut that left little doubt the Crimson Tide offense is absolutely operational in 2021.
You had issues about Invoice O’Brien as offensive coordinator? Younger hit eight completely different receivers en path to a first-half. the place he completed 19 of 27 for 201 yards and three TDs. Younger then hit Ohio State switch Jameson Williams for a 94-yard TD on a nook route within the third quarter on a throw the place he was leveled within the pocket. That gave the Tide a 34-3 lead.
Couple that with a protection that dominated within the first half, and this has the potential to be Saban’s most-diabolical creation but.
Younger might be in place to be the primary Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman, and that might be yet one more accomplishment within the Saban period. A.J. McCarron (2013) and Tua Tagovailoa (2018) completed second,
and Mac Jones (2020) completed third. At a minimal, Younger took the lead over a few of the preseason favorites, and Alabama Heisman campaigns write themselves.
ALABAMA HEISMAN TOP-10 FINALISTS UNDER NICK SABAN
Yr
Participant
Pos.
End
2009
Mark Ingram
RB
1st
2011
Trent Richardson
RB
third
2013
AJ McCarron
QB
2nd
2014
Amari Cooper
WR
third
2015
Derrick Henry
RB
1st
2016
Jonathan Allen
DE
seventh
2018
Tua Tagovailoa
QB
2nd
2018
Quinnen Williams
DE
eighth
2019
Tua Tagovailoa
QB
tenth
2020
DeVonta Smith
WR
1st
2020
Mac Jones
QB
third
2020
Najee Harris
RB
fifth
Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler and North Carolina’s Sam Howell have been the presumed favorites, and each struggled in Week 1.
Rattler completed 30 of 39 for 304 yards, a TD and two interceptions in a sport the place Tulane had the ball with an opportunity to take the lead within the closing minute. The Sooners gained 40-35, but when anyone was the hero it was OU kicker Gabe Brkic. He hit three discipline objectives of fifty yards or extra within the 40-35 victory. Rattler had a sluggish begin final September, too, so there’s time to recalibrate.
Howell may not have that luxurious. North Carolina was the primary high 10 workforce to lose on Friday, when it fell 17-10 at Virginia Tech. Howell completed 17 of 32 for 208 yards, a TD and three interceptions, and he couldn’t set up a reference to a receiver exterior of Josh Downs (8 catches, 123 yards, TD).
Who’s the Heisman front-runner amongst quarterbacks? Younger makes essentially the most sense as a result of he’s on the most effective workforce.
Clemson’s problem: Go 12-0 from right here
Clemson constructed a nationwide championship program by beating SEC heavyweights.
Will an in depth loss to a kind of heavyweights be sufficient to save lots of that fame in 2021? That’s the uncomfortable state of affairs the Tigers are in after a 10-3 loss to No. 5 Georgia within the Duke’s Mayo Basic on Saturday.
BENDER: Georgia protection appears championship worthy
Now, No. 3 Clemson must hope one other ACC championship is sufficient to get one other probability. That’s, Clemson must go 12-0 from right here on out to make a seventh straight Faculty Soccer Playoff look below Dabo Swinney.
Was the Duke’s Mayo Basic a threat price taking? In spite of everything, there’s such a factor as a “good loss.” The issue is the Tigers did not look good doing it, at the least on one facet of the ball. Clemson’s protection didn’t hand over a landing, however Georgia’s protection sacked sophomore quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei seven instances, and he completed 19 of 37 for 178 yards and threw a decide six that was the sport’s solely TD.
Uiagalelei’s five-star expertise will materialize, however he has misplaced to 2 top-five groups in three begins relationship again to final yr’s 47-40 loss to No. 4 Notre Dame. The Tigers gained the rematch within the ACC championship sport, however Saturday’s loss marked the fourth Clemson loss to a top-five workforce in 5 video games.
The protection was lit up in playoff losses to LSU and Ohio State the final two seasons. This time, the offense could not get began and the offensive line took the hit after the Tigers had 23 speeding makes an attempt for 2 yards.
Does this imply Dabo is on the downslide? No. That is the fallout from dropping a top-five non-conference matchup in Week 1, a phenomenon that was forgotten within the COVID-wrecked 2020 season.
However the loss to a SEC college carries weight. Clemson’s evolution as a program began with a victory in opposition to LSU within the 2012 Chick-Fil-A Bowl and the corresponding win in opposition to Georgia within the 2013 common season. Swinney gained nationwide championships by beating Alabama twice. Clemson was 14-5 in opposition to SEC groups since that run began heading into Saturday’s sport.
If there’s one playoff spot remaining on the finish of the season and the selection is between a second SEC college and Clemson, then that would get dicey.
The Tigers’ schedule leaves rather a lot to be desired. The remaining non-conference schedule is South Carolina State, UConn and South Carolina.
The ACC had a tough opening weekend. North Carolina and Miami have been presupposed to be the ACC Coastal favorites and each disenchanted. They have been amongst 4 groups in that division that misplaced in Week 1. Charlotte upset Duke 31-28, and Northern Illinois upset Georgia Tech 22-21. Virginia Tech, Pitt and Virginia gained their openers.
The Energy 5’s most unpredictable division virtually by no means disappoints, however that may present the identical nondescript stage in Charlotte when/if Clemson returns for the ACC title sport.
That won’t be the identical heavyweight combat. Clemson can solely hope it will get one other probability at an SEC college this season.
Resetting the Large Ten
Give the Large Ten credit score. The Week 1 schedule was improbable. 4 crossover video games shook up the pecking order in each divisions.
Minnesota briefly threw an upset scare into Ohio State earlier than C.J. Stroud settled in behind a humiliation of playmakers in a 45-31 victory on Thursday. The Buckeyes scored 5 offensive TDs that coated a mean of 59.2 yards per rating (bear in mind this stat for later) in opposition to the Gophers. Can anyone sustain with that offensive firepower?
Nicely, Penn State and Wisconsin have been tied at 0-0 at halftime. The Nittany Lions averaged 2.8 yards per carry. The Badgers missed a discipline aim and had three turnovers. Any individual has to win a rock-fight, and
Penn State intercepted Graham Mertz twice within the closing 5 minutes for a 16-10 victory. Penn State now has gained seven of the final eight conferences in opposition to the Badgers.
That is a nasty loss for Wisconsin, however it was worse for Northwestern on Friday evening.
Michigan State throttled the defending Large Ten West champion Wildcats at house. Wake Forest switch operating again Kenneth Walker rushed for 264 yards and 4 TDs; a breakout efficiency that began on the primary snap.
“We see that every single day in follow from him,” Michigan State coach Mel Tucker stated. “That is what he does.”
The Spartans have not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Jeremy Langford, who rushed for 1,522 yards and 22 TDs as a part of an 11-2 season the place Michigan State gained the Cotton Bowl in 2014.
Iowa saved the Large Ten West’s face by routing Indiana 34-6 and slowing the roll on final yr’s feel-good story within the Large Ten. The Hawkeyes intercepted Michael Penix Jr. within the first half thrice to construct a 31-3 halftime lead. Iowa gained up entrance in systematic style by limiting the Hoosiers to 2.5 yards per carry.
What did we be taught? So far as potential challengers for the Buckeyes, the highest undercards at the moment are Iowa and Penn State. Michigan State and Michigan (we’ll get to them in a bit) are subsequent, and Wisconsin, Indiana and Northwestern have work to do to get again into the ring.
Week 2 workforce to observe
Will Michigan be ranked for its Week 2 matchup in opposition to Washington within the Large Home? The Wolverines routed Western Michigan 47-14; a victory tempered by senior receiver Ronnie Bell’s leg damage.
How will if Michigan is actual? We are saying this each time in opposition to ranked opponents: Watch the operating sport subsequent week in opposition to the Huskies. Michigan rushed for 334 yards and averaged 7.8 yards per carry in opposition to Western Michigan. Blake Corum (111 yards, TD) and Hassan Haskins (70 yards, TD) have been an efficient tag-team, and that’s the key for Cade McNamara, who hit 9 of 11 passes for 136 yards and two TDs.
Michigan followers will spend your complete week, nevertheless, speaking concerning the throw five-star freshman quarterback J.J. McCarthy made within the fourth quarter:
Michigan’s six offensive TDs averaged 47.5 yards per rating, which is at the least within the Buckeyes’ zip code. Yeah, it is too quickly for that. Higher information: The Wolverines have a quarterback controversy brewing due to expertise, not necessity. Will the massive performs be there in a must-win sport for sixth-year coach Jim Harbaugh or will the hot-seat talks return?
Switch QBs have blended outcomes
A complete of 19 switch quarterbacks began for Energy 5 groups in Week 1, and that included 10 first-time starters with their new workforce. If McKenzie Milton begins for Florida State in opposition to Notre Dame on Sunday, he’ll be part of that listing.
Who have been the largest winners among the many switch QBs?
– Kentucky’s Will Levis, a Penn State switch, went bananas with 308 yards and three TDs within the first half in a 45-10 blowout in opposition to UL-Monroe. Levis completed with 367 yards and 4 TDs, and he labored the ball successfully to Josh Ali (136 yards) and Nebraska switch Wan’Dale Robinson (125 yards).
– Kansas’ Jason Bean, a North Texas switch, led a 17-14 victory, which broke a dropping streak that prolonged again to Oct. 26, 2019. The Jayhawks will look to construct a profitable streak in opposition to Coastal Carolina
in Week 2.
– Utah’s Charlie Brewer (Baylor), Tennessee’s Joe Milton (Michigan) and Texas Tech’s Tyler Shough (Oregon) additionally picked up victories of their first begin, although the outcomes have been blended.
– And at last, South Carolina’s Zeb Noland, who went from graduate assistant to beginning QB in just some weeks, threw 4 TDs within the Gamecocks 46-0 rout of Japanese Illinois.
Sneak peek at Week 2
– It is Iowa! Is that this the largest sport in Iowa-Iowa State historical past? Iowa has gained the final 5 conferences, and Iowa State has not crushed the Hawkeyes in Ames since a 44-41 extra time thriller in 2011 when Paul Rhoads was a third-year coach and Tom Herman was the offensive coordinator.
– Ohio State-Oregon and Michigan-Washington put the Alliance on show. The Buckeyes have gained eight straight video games in opposition to Pac-12 opponents, and the Wolverines are 2-1 in opposition to Pac-12 groups below Harbaugh. The shine got here off Michigan-Washington a bit with the Huskies’ gorgeous 13-7 loss to Montana.
– Seven groups that have been ranked within the Preseason AP High 25 are taking part in FCS groups. We won’t anticipate Saban to preview Mercer in Week 2.
– BYU-Utah within the “Holy Conflict” at 10:15 p.m. ET. Will the Cougars be within the Large 12 earlier than they attempt to break a nine-game dropping streak to the Utes?
Additional Factors
– Steve Sarkisian gained his debut at Texas with a 38-18 victory in opposition to Louisiana, and the first-year coach saved it easy: Get the ball to Bijan Robinson. The Longhorns sophomore operating again had 20 carries for 103 yards and a TD and added 4 catches for 73 yards and a TD. That is 7.4 yards per contact, and the identical formulation Sarkisian used to perfection with Najee Harris at Alabama, who averaged 6.4 yards per offensive contact whereas scoring 50 TDs his closing two seasons. Robinson is that type of particular expertise and an enormous cause why the Longhorns aren’t trending on Twitter after Week 1.
– Perhaps LSU coach Ed Orgeron should not have known as out that UCLA fan.
Orgeron hot-seat discuss is simple dialog fodder, however that is about UCLA with Chip Kelly, who was 10-21 coming the final three seasons. The Bruins outplayed LSU in a 38-27 win on the Rose Bowl. The Bruins’ offense lastly appears flashy with Dorian Thompson-Robinson and the operating again tandem of Zach Charbonnet and Britain Brown. Do not be stunned if UCLA makes the largest leap within the Week 2 AP Ballot among the many previously-unranked groups.
What was much more shocking: LSU couldn’t run the ball. The Tigers had 48 yards on 1.9 yards per carry.
The place can we discover a kind of blue shirts?
– Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux did this within the first half in opposition to Fresno State:
Then Thibodeaux left with an ankle damage and spent the second half in avenue garments. The Geese survived a 31-24 upset bid in opposition to the Bulldogs, however his well being might be monitored carefully main as much as the top-10 showdown in opposition to Ohio State.
– Holy Cross beat UConn 38-28, and Jason Modak scored a big-guy TD within the FCS upset. That is the proper time for a Gordie Lockbaum reference .
– One other Group of 5 upstart from Louisiana practically pulled an upset Saturday. In final yr’s opener, Mississippi State’s Ok.J. Costello threw for a SEC document 623 yards in a 44-34 victory in opposition to defending nationwide champion LSU. It appeared like Mike Leach had introduced “60 Minutes of Hell” to the SEC . This time, the Bulldogs rallied from 17 factors to beat Louisiana Tech 35-34. Will Rogers hit 39 of 47 passes for 370 yards, proving as soon as once more there’s by no means a boring second with Leach.
– Is Cincinnati the hardest sport on Notre Dame’s schedule? Wisconsin and North Carolina misplaced, so it’s not a nasty query. Desmond Ridder handed for 4 TDs, and the Bearcats routed rival Miami, Ohio 42-14. The RedHawks transformed 3 of 19 conversions on third or fourth down. Perhaps USC is the more durable out for the Irish, however U-C is the higher guess to be unbeaten after they come to South Bend on Oct. 2.
– Three groups put up 60 spots in Week 1, together with two first-year coaches.
Auburn beat Akron 60-10 in Bryan Harsin’s first sport. Buffalo routed Wagner in Maurice Linguist’s opener as head coach. The opposite? Rutgers pounded Temple 61-14 in a sport that was pushed from Thursday to Saturday as a result of flooding in New Jersey.
