Tag: CFB

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) during Tennessee's Orange and White spring football game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2024.

Get to know 20 CFB stars in the making

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The college football season begins in force this week, filled with established stars such as Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham and Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon III.

But the beginning of each season is filled with the promise of new stars – players ready to blossom due to bigger roles, changes of scenery or just doing what college kids are supposed to do: Grow up.

Here are 20 get-to-know players for 2024, including the 10 members of the next wave of quarterbacks we’re likely to be talking about from Week 1 and years to come.

20. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State – A 12-game starter at safety for the Buckeyes, Styles moved to linebacker in the spring. Watch his tackle count soar for a nasty OSU defense.

19. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Arizona – The senior is a ready-for-the-Big 12 running back after rushing for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns on 189 carries last season at New Mexico. He’ll make sure opponents can’t just focus on the elite passing game in the Wildcats go-go offense.

18. Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia – How to replace Brock Bowers? It’s Delp’s time to shine after catching 24 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns last season.

17. Brock Vandagriff, QB, Kentucky – The former five-star recruit got caught in the QB traffic at Georgia. If he’s all everyone thought he was out of high school, the Wildcats are going to problems in the SEC.

16. Adepoju Adebawore, DE, Oklahoma – Raves poured in about the sophomore’s bulked-up body in camp to complement his athleticism off the edge. He’s a real X-factor as the Sooners step into the SEC wars.

15. Aidan Chiles, QB, Michigan State – The athletic sophomore provided a tease of his ability in small doses at Oregon State before following coach Jonathan Smith to East Lansing, as the Spartans try to move past a 4-8 season.

14. Grayson “Pup” Howard, LB, Florida – The South Carolina transfer (19 tackles as a freshman last season) was a force in camp for the Gators, facing a critical year for coach Billy Napier.

13. Kyron Drones, QB, Virginia Tech – Dual-threat QB might already be a “known” after starting 11 games last season, but both he and the Hokies (7-6) will kick it into a higher gear this season.

12. Max Brosmer, QB, Minnesota – Who doesn’t love an FCS-to-FBS success story? Brosmer makes the jump after throwing for 8,713 yards and 70 TDs across five years at New Hampshire.

11. Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU – Don’t expect the running of LSU’s Mr. Heisman, Jayden Daniels, but Nussmeier, a junior, has done nothing but look the part whenever he’s gotten a chance.

10. Phil Mafah, RB, Clemson – No more time share for Mafah, who can carry the load all by himself. Remember the 36 carries for 186 yards against Notre Dame last season?

9. Jaishawn Barham, LB, Michigan – Junior gets the Big Blue spotlight after making 23 starts at Maryland. Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore has called him a “physical specimen.”

8. Miller Moss, QB, Southern California – Let’s assume the six passing touchdowns in a bowl victory over Louisville was the truth and nothing but the truth.

7. Anthony Hill, LB, Texas – A 2023 Freshman All-American (66 tackles, eight for loss, five sacks) who is going to make the jump to everybody’s All-American in 2024.

6. Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M – No longer hidden away at Purdue, Scourton was one of the biggest portal prizes this offseason, looking to improve upon his 10-sack effort from last year.

5. Avery Johnson, QB, Kansas State – Hasn’t started a regular-season game, but his work as a dual-threat backup pushed started Will Howard to Ohio State. Raw talent is off the charts.

4. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State – The No. 1 prospect in the 2024 class is going to be a Day 1 starter, and nobody could tone down the expectations even if they tried.

3. Jackson Arnold, QB, Oklahoma – The gunslinging former 5-star recruit is wired to embrace the Heisman legacy of OU’s QB position … and to spread the ball all over the offense.

2. Dylan Raiola, QB, Nebraska – The savior of Huskers’ football? The true freshman said it best this week: “Buckle up, it’s gonna be a fun ride.”

1. Nico Iamaleava, QB, Tennessee – Tall, athletic and flashed greatness in the bowl win over Iowa, he’s the full package for a Vols squad with eyes on the College Football Playoff.

–Anthony Gimino, Field Level Media

Florida State Seminoles quarterback Tate Rodemaker (18) throws the ball during the first half against the Florida Gators at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]

Championship Weekend: Players to watch in 2023 title games

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Transfer portal got you down? College Football Playoff envy striking as December arrives?

Field Level Media’s college football writers dial up the elixir for those facing the reality of missing out, with a game-by-game watchlist for conference championship matchups, the official start of the postseason on Friday night.

We’re here with the guide to the names to know in the biggest games of the weekend.

Maybe he sounds as if he’s straight out of Whoville, but we’ve trimmed the rosters to the most important names such as the guy now tasked with taking down Louisville.

Read on and get ready to take your own measurements of Florida State’s championship stock with backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker, or find out which fresh-faced SEC safety might be building the resume to signal he will flip the field in Atlanta.

–Pac-12 Championship (Oregon vs. Washington, Friday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Oregon QB Bo Nix
The Heisman betting favorite entering championship weekend, Nix has completed 78.6 percent of his 401 pass attempts, with 37 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Strong-armed and mobile, he’s only been getting better, with 1,569 yards and 16 touchdowns in the past four games.

Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.
The lefty spins the ball as well as any quarterback in the country. His production dipped in the second half of the season, but he still has 3,899 passing yards and 32 touchdowns … and now he should have a full complement of wideouts with Jalen McMillan having returned from injury.

Oregon RB Bucky Irving
The junior is a multi-dimensional threat in a Ducks offense that plays fast and has lots of speed. Irving already has posted his second consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season, and he’s added 48 catches for 379 yards in 2023.

Washington WR Rome Odunze
He is one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top receiver (an honor that Oregon’s Troy Franklin was deserving of, too). Odunze has 13 touchdown catches among his 73 receptions for 1,326 yards.

Washington DE Bralen Trice
Can the Huskies pressure Oregon QB Bo Nix and get him out of rhythm? Oregon has allowed only five sacks all season, but Trice (five sacks, 10 quarterback hurries) will try to make an impact in the Ducks backfield.

–Big 12 Championship (Texas vs. Oklahoma State, Saturday, Noon ET, ABC)
Texas QB Quinn Ewers
Ewers has thrown for 2,709 yards and 17 touchdowns and has also rushed for five scores. He threw for multiple touchdowns just twice in Big 12 play after throwing for eight combined in three nonconference games.

Oklahoma State RB Ollie Gordon
Gordon leads FBS with 1,580 rushing yards and is second in rushing touchdowns (20), total touchdowns (21) and all-purpose yards (1,852). He had 282 rushing yards against West Virginia, the most for any FBS player this season. Gordon is one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award.

Oklahoma State LB Nickolas Martin
The redshirt sophomore leads the Big 12 with 120 tackles and is tied for second with 16 tackles for loss. He also has six sacks. Martin has five games with at least 10 tackles, including 17 in two games.

Texas DT T’Vondre Sweat
Sweat, a finalist for the Outland Trophy, is the highest-graded interior defensive lineman by Pro Football Focus, at 91.6. Sweat has 40 tackles, eight for loss, with two sacks and seven quarterback hurries.

Texas WR Xavier Worthy
The junior has a career-high 67 catches for 883 yards and five touchdowns. Worthy had a season-high 10 catches for 137 yards against TCU on Nov. 11.

–SEC Championship (Georgia vs. Alabama, Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS)
Georgia TE Brock Bowers
The best tight end in the country was dominating with 24 receptions for 410 yards and four touchdowns in a three-game span before hurting an ankle against Vanderbilt in mid-October. Bowers returned to the field four weeks later and had TD catches in both games he played in November. If healthy, Georgia certainly has some tricks in mind with the versatile player who has 31 career touchdowns (26 receiving, five rushing).

Alabama QB Jalen Milroe
He was demoted for a Week 3 game at South Florida and his sideline leadership impressed coach Nick Saban that day. Milroe regained the starting job the following day and the Crimson Tide flourished under him. He has accounted for 33 touchdowns (21 passing, 12 rushing) while adeptly running the offense.

Georgia QB Carson Beck
Two-time national champion Stetson Bennett ran out of eligibility and there certainly hasn’t even been a slight dropoff. Beck has pinpoint accuracy and has five 300-yard outings. He has displayed good leadership but the real test will be how he handles the increased pressure this Saturday and during the College Football Playoffs.

Georgia S Tykee Smith
The latest star DB for the Bulldogs, Smith stepped up to be one of the top defenders on the Bulldogs and had interceptions in three straight games early in the season. Always seems to be near the ball and ready to make an impact play. Smith is a highly experienced player as he played two seasons at West Virginia before transferring to Georgia following the 2020 season.

Alabama SS Caleb Downs
The freshman stepped right in and quickly made a name for himself. Downs leads the Crimson Tide with 95 tackles and also has two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He also had an 85-yard punt return for touchdown against Chattanooga.

–American Athletic Championship (Tulane vs. SMU, Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ABC)
SMU QB Kevin Jennings
Jennings is filling in for injured Preston Stone, the AAC’s second-most efficient and third-most productive passer in 2023. He has seen limited action in two seasons with productive moments. Surrounded by a bevy of talented skill players and the conference’s top scoring defense, Jennings doesn’t have to do it all.

SMU DE Elijah Robert
Tied for second in the conference with 8.5 sacks, Robert will be counted on to disrupt Michael Pratt, the top-rated passer in the conference. Pratt is also an effective runner so Robert and his teammates will have to contain him when the pressure forces Pratt to move.

Tulane QB Michael Pratt
He’s not only No. 10 in the country in passing efficiency and an effective runner, but Pratt also is a winner. In the last two seasons, the Green Wave is 21-2 in games he has started and generally he has found ways to produce points when necessary to salvage victory in tight games.

Tulane RB Makhi Hughes
He emerged from an early-season competition to become the featured back and has been a tone-setter for the offense since game five when he broke out with 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns against UAB. That started a stretch of
seven 100-yard performances in the last eight games, including a season-high 166 yards and a touchdown against Texas-San Antonio last week.

Tulane DB Lance Robinson
He leads the conference’s best team at making interceptions. Robinson is tied for the individual lead in the conference with four interceptions and the Green Wave have a conference-leading 15 interceptions as a team. Robinson and friends figure to be ball hawking even more than usual as they face a relatively inexperienced backup QB in Jennings.

–ACC Championship (Florida State vs. Louisville, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ABC)
Florida State QB Tate Rodemaker
The redshirt junior was thrust into the starting role after Jordan Travis suffered a season-ending leg injury on Nov. 18. A former three-star recruit, he’s been Travis’ backup for years, knows the system and was praised by coach Mike Norvell for his mental toughness. One solid game and Rodemaker could be playing in the CFP.

Florida State WR Keon Coleman
It would help Rodemaker tremendously to establish an early connection with Coleman, a projected first-round draft pick with 11 touchdowns this season. Coleman caught just one pass for 24 yards against Florida. He’s a big target at 6-foot-4 and has a reputation for making difficult catches.

Florida State DE Jared Verse
Like Coleman, Verse could hear his name called on the first night of the draft this April. He’s coming off a season-high 2.5 sacks against Florida to get to seven on the season, but his production has been hot and cold. He’s had three multi-sack games and a half-sack across the other nine.

Louisville QB Jack Plummer
No relation to Jake the Snake, this Plummer is making his own name. He arrived at Louisville after four seasons at Purdue and one at Cal, and he’s completed two-thirds of his passes, including 70 percent against AP-ranked opponents. He’s never played in a game quite this important.

Louisville RB Jawhar Jordan
Second in the ACC with 1,076 rushing yards and third with 13 touchdowns, Jordan is a critical piece of the Louisville offense. Florida State ranks 10th in the nation in pass defense, so the Cardinals may look to establish themselves on the ground. Jordan averaged 5.4 yards per carry against the Seminoles in last year’s regular-season meeting.

–Big Ten Championship (Michigan vs. Iowa, Saturday, 8 p.m., FOX)
Michigan RB Blake Corum
Sidelined during the postseason last year by a left knee injury, Corum came back better than ever in his senior year. Corum leads Division I with 22 rushing touchdowns and has been a workhorse down the stretch, averaging 25.3 carries in the last three games.

Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy
A two-year starter, McCarthy has a big and accurate arm, completing 74.3 percent of his attempts this season. He wasn’t asked to do too much in four November games, throwing just one touchdown, but is capable of carrying his team if the running game stalls.

Michigan DB Mike Sainristil
If the Wolverines need a big play from their secondary, Sainristil is usually the player who makes it. The senior has picked off five passes, including a pair in a seven-point win over Maryland. He returned interceptions for touchdowns against Michigan State and Rutgers.

Iowa LB Jay Higgins
The Hawkeyes’ stout defense is spearheaded by Higgins, whose 60 solo tackles are 27 more than any of his teammates. The senior has recorded double-digit total tackles in eight games while also forcing a fumble and recovering two more.

Iowa QB Deacon Hill
Thrust into a starting role after ex-Wolverines quarterback Cade McNamara suffered a season-ending knee injury, Hill has served as a game manager. He’s passed for fewer than 1,000 yards despite eight starts and 11 appearances. Hill will have to come up with his best outing of the season for Iowa to pull an upset.

–Field Level Media

Georgia coach Kirby Smart could be celebrating another CFP bid in Atlanta this weekend -- or praying for the committee's mercy. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

What’s at stake in CFB this weekend? A team-by-team breakdown

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Stakes are sky-high in college football conference championship games, where a loss multiplies the likelihood of missing out on the postseason destination of choice.

That’s true of nearly every Power 5 conference title game.

Even for No. 1 Georgia, with back-to-back national championships and 29 wins in a row, a defeat spikes doubt about its spot in the College Football Playoff.

And for No. 2 Michigan, losing to Iowa in Indianapolis could push the Wolverines well below the CFP semifinals line of entry at No. 4, what with Oregon at No. 5 and Texas and Alabama entering their trophy-hunting spots believing a win warrants a playoff spot.

What’s at stake for the teams kicking off the postseason on the first weekend of December? Here’s a team-by-team snapshot.

No. 1 Georgia (12-0, vs. No. 8 Alabama in SEC Championship)
Win, and Georgia is the No. 1 seed playing the perceived weakest of the final four in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. If rankings hold, that means ACC champion Florida State minus dynamic quarterback Jordan Travis. If Florida State stumbles — even in a close win — a Pac-12 team is the most likely opponent, but No. 6 Ohio State or longshot Texas, ranked seventh, could also slide into No. 4. The Seminoles are the most vulnerable team in the top four entering the weekend.

Where would Georgia land if the Bulldogs lose to Alabama?

Stacking one-loss options for the committee might be less complicated than some are asserting. By going undefeated in the SEC regular season, a close loss to the Crimson Tide keeps the Bulldogs squarely in the conversation at No. 4 and likely ahead of current No. 4 FSU because of the Travis injury.

Prediction: CFP Semifinal, Sugar Bowl

No. 2 Michigan (12-0, vs No. 16 Iowa in Big Ten Championship)
Michigan can’t lose to two-loss Iowa and expect to be anywhere near the CFP semifinals. The Hawkeyes played one ranked team all season, and lost 31-0 to Penn State. We envision a similar result, and perhaps one or two us-against-the-world references postgame.

Prediction: CFP Semifinal, Rose Bowl

No. 3 Washington (12-0, vs. No. 5 Oregon in Pac-12 Championship)

Prediction: Fiesta Bowl

No. 4 Florida State (12-0, vs. No. 14 Louisville in ACC Championship)
Before the bully brigade cries foul about a Power 5 team going undefeated and missing out on the playoff, the committee has already shared its assessment of FSU minus Travis. And it’s not sparkling.

Note the Tuesday comments from committee chair Boo Corrigan, NC State’s athletic director who should expect some interesting holiday mail from Tallahassee, on the current view of the Seminoles.

“Different team, right? Different team without Jordan Travis,” Corrigan said. “Tate Rodemaker … has done well and has kind of managed the game.”

What also hurts the view of FSU’s potential title game win? Louisville’s loss last week to Kentucky. The Wildcats finished 3-5 in the SEC and lost 51-13 to Georgia and by four touchdowns to Alabama. Can the committee stack up the Seminoles on the same footing as a one-loss Georgia team if it comes to it?

Prediction: Orange Bowl

No. 5 Oregon (11-1, vs. No. 3 Washington in Pac-12 Championship)
Pummeling Oregon State caught the attention of the committee — and they said as much — but perhaps disheartening for the Ducks was still being slotted behind a shaky, but undefeated, Florida State team. That certifies the path to the CFP semifinals involves beating Washington on Friday, and Oregon likely has no other route to getting into the final four.

As Heisman ballots trickle in with Oregon’s Bo Nix as a favorite, the Ducks have momentum despite losing the regular-season meeting with Washington.

Who wouldn’t love championship weekend kicking off with an “upset”?

Prediction: CFP Semifinal, Sugar Bowl

No. 7 Texas (11-1, vs. Oklahoma State in Big 12 Championship)
Win or lose, the ultimate destination for the Longhorns is entirely in the hands of the CFP committee. Unless upsets reign to stir chaos and realign the pecking order of the rankings, Texas likely needs multiple teams in the current top four to fall. Not only are all four undefeated, there’s a question as to whether one-loss Texas could be viewed as a better option than potential one-loss teams such as Georgia and Washington should they lose their conference championship games.

The assertion is also based on the marginal surge it could expect from beating Oklahoma State combined with the salivating praise the committee has had for the Pac-12 title game participants. There is no indication the committee would place one-loss Texas ahead of one-loss Washington given the consistently glowing reviews of the Huskies from the committee. And No. 6 Ohio State, idle after its only loss of the season at Michigan, would be back in the conversation if Georgia, Michigan and Oregon all win but Florida State doesn’t dominate Louisville.

Prediction: Cotton Bowl vs. No. 9 Missouri

No. 8 Alabama (11-1, vs. Georgia in SEC Championship)
Beat Georgia, a decisive No. 1 in the mind of the CFP committee, and Alabama is likely to enter the semifinals ranked No. 2 behind Michigan.

Lose to Georgia, and head coach Nick Saban takes on the same posture he did at this time last year: Alabama is good enough to be in the final four but left the committee no choice but to leave it out.

Prediction: Fiesta Bowl

No. 14 Louisville (10-2, vs. Florida State in ACC Championship)
The sting of rivalry week lingers for the Cardinals, who at No. 10 in the rankings had a chance to set themselves up for a golden opportunity in the ACC title game against a Florida State team rediscovering an identity with a new starting quarterback. Even a side door entry to the CFP appears to be slammed shut with the imagined scenario of a win Saturday coupled with losses by Michigan, Washington, Texas and Alabama standing as their best possible pipedream.

Losing to Kentucky destroyed Louisville’s shot at a more glamorous bowl bid,

Prediction: Peach Bowl

No. 18 Oklahoma State (9-3, vs. Texas in Big 12 Championship)
Maybe the Cowboys have a different view on the weekend proceedings, but beating Texas might not be meaningful in the big picture because of the at-large options available such as Ohio State and Notre Dame, plus potentially Oregon or Washington, Alabama and the Longhorns.

The Cowboys are still a draw, and spend holiday week preparing for the only bowl game with an edible mascot. Potential opposition includes the Fighting Irish and Auburn. We’ll toast to that.

Prediction: Pop-Tarts Bowl

No. 22 Tulane (11-1, vs. SMU in AAC Championship)
Another New Year’s Six bowl on a national stage awaits the Green Wave with a win Saturday, and getting there sets up another massive showcase game rarely available to champions of the AAC. Tulane made the most of it last season, beating Southern Cal in one of the more thrilling 2022 bowl games (46-45).

Prediction: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

No. 24 Liberty (12-0, vs. New Mexico State in CUSA Championship)
A perfect record hasn’t piqued the interest of the CFP committee yet, and only a headline-grabbing win Friday coupled with a Tulane loss might do the job this late in the game. A Tulane loss to SMU isn’t purely good news for Liberty in the Group of Six/New Year’s Six sphere. That’s because the committee could easily place SMU — or MAC champion Toledo — ahead of Liberty in the final rankings on Sunday.

Prediction: Cure Bowl

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2023; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) passes against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Ohio State vs. Penn State: Preview, Prop Pick and Prediction

Posted on | by Field Level Media

A game that caters to those who yearn for tough-guy football and an era in which defense actually did win championships is our pick for the game of the week.

Unbeaten Penn State visits Ohio Stadium for a huge Big Ten East Division tilt in a showdown with Ohio State that likely will swing on one or two explosive plays.

Penn State played a schedule that makes it a little difficult to anoint its defense unbeatable to date. The Nittany Lions’ most formidable opponent was Iowa, now ranked No. 24, and Penn State passed that test 31-0.

Coming off a 63-0 pasting of Massachusetts last Saturday, Penn State aims to make a major case for inclusion in the College Football Playoff; after Saturday, only a Nov. 11 home date with No. 2 Michigan stands as a serious impediment prior to a potential Big Ten title matchup (likely against either overmatched Iowa or overmatched Wisconsin).

Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord engineered a dramatic late drive at Notre Dame, winning 17-14 and answering those critical of his talent and leadership.

The Buckeyes crushed Purdue 41-7 last Saturday as McCord threw for 276 yards and three touchdowns.

Can betting value be found in the total, or is this slugfest worth a wager on the underdog?

We have news, trends and quotes — along with our game prediction.

–Kickoff: noon, ET
–Television: FOX
–Location: Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
–Point Spread, Total: Ohio State -4.5, Total 45.5 (per BetMGM as of Wednesday).

THE NEWS
The prideful Penn State defense appears to have the talent to shut down an opponent and could be helped by key injuries impacting Ohio State’s offense.

Rabid backers of either side should probably keep their money on the sideline until the availability report is released by the Buckeyes a few hours prior to kickoff.

The status of running backs TreVeyon Henderson, Chip Trayanum and Miyan Williams, along with standout receiver Emeka Egbuka, is key information that could swing support.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day wasn’t about to help the sports-betting community when asked Tuesday about his quartet of injured players.

“I’m not going to get into all those guys, but hopefully we’ll have those guys back for Saturday,” Day said.

Henderson has missed the past two games. Williams sat against Purdue and Trayanum was injured late in the first quarter against the Boilermakers.

“You do have to get creative … ultimately nobody cares (about the injuries),” Day said.

While Egbuka sat out the Purdue game and is certainly an important piece of the Buckeyes’ offensive machine, the nation’s best NFL receiver prospect, Marvin Harrison Jr., is set to cause Penn State all kinds of problems.

QUICK PICK
This matchup has the makings of a classic grind, the kind of game in which big plays decide the winner.

Harrison Jr., who hauled in six throws for 105 yards and a score in Ohio State’s rout of Purdue, will find plenty of company within a Penn State defensive scheme designed to remove him from the equation.

The Nittany Lions rank first in the nation in pass defense (121.2 yards per game) and total yards (193.7) and second in points (8.0) and rushing yards allowed (72.5).

The banged-up Buckeyes rushing attack will be challenged, too, as Penn State has held opponents under 100 rushing yards in five consecutive games.

Freshman quarterback Drew Allar, who has been a highly functional steward for the Nittany Lions’ offense (12 touchdown passes with no interceptions on 181 attempts), faces by far his biggest test.

According to Action Network numbers, Ohio State ranks fifth in Passing Success Rate Allowed but 64th in passing explosiveness allowed. That means Allar, the king of checkdowns this season against inferior opponents, will need to take a downfield chance or two.

This is his Kyle McCord-Notre Dame moment – a test that McCord passed in leading that last-gasp drive against the Irish.

The Penn State rush defense allows only 2.1 yards per carry, so McCord will again have to make a few plays himself.

The visitors figure to do just enough on offense to keep this within a field goal, and a splash play from Allard would just about assure a Penn State cover.

The pick: Ohio State 24, Penn State 21.

THEY SAID IT
“I feel like we’ve definitely been battle-tested; we’ve played some really good opponents. Offensively, we’ve gotten better each week, gotten more consistent each week, and we just need to keep building on that. We can’t change our routine based on the opponent.”

–Penn State freshman quarterback Drew Allar.

–Field Level Media

September 10, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of Saturday's game against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Ohio Stadium.Mandatory Credit: Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch

Top 24 prospects eligible for ’24 NFL Draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The top of the 2024 NFL Draft features flex-worthy talent at quarterback and offensive tackle, the type of star power that changes the fortunes of an NFL team upon arrival.

Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams enters the season as the No. 1 talent in college football.

But the offensive tackle group stands out. It’s one of the deepest in recent years thanks to surefire 2023 first-round pick Olumuyiwa Fashanu opting to return to Penn State. He’s the clear-cut top option and fits the prototype of players who’ve gone No. 1 at the position historically.

Special athletes that could push for Fashanu’s perch include BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia and Alabama’s JC Latham. They will be early draft selections at their current trajectory.

As college football season kicks off this weekend, we’ve provided a snapshot of players to know before draft season arrives.

Here are the top 24 prospects eligible for the ’24 draft:

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC: A dynamic passer with rare arm talent, creativity and feel for the position, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner enters the season as a clear favorite for the No. 1 pick. Blue-chip quarterbacks like this don’t come around often.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr, WR, Ohio State: The son of a Hall of Famer, expectations on Harrison exceed those placed on his father. Read that sentence again. His blend of athleticism and craftsmanship should make him an easy top-5 pick.

3. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State: Fashanu flirted with the idea of entering the 2023 draft, but his return could pay off handsomely. The polished pass-blocker has rare technical polish and body control for his size.

4. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia: Bowers plays more like a receiver than a traditional tight end, which may not sit well with every NFL team. Despite modest blocking acumen, he should still find his way into a rare top-10 draft slot for a tight end.

5. Dallas Turner, OLB, Alabama: Explosive, bendy and dominant is the best way to describe Turner, who figures to follow Will Anderson’s steps as a top pass-rusher out of Tuscaloosa. A slender frame and lack of strength is the only major concern.

6. Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU: A high upside lineman with special tools befitting the “dancing bear” moniker, Suamataia is more of a projection than a complete prospect. That said, he is one of the best pound-for-pound athletes in next year’s class.

7. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina: Smooth operating with the touch of a ten year veteran, Maye lacks the spark of Williams, but he’s a good distributor who can conduct an offense like a crafty pro.

8. JC Latham, OT, Alabama: Latham is bulking up to 360 pounds after playing last year at 335. His bet on being an enormous road grader could send his draft stock either soaring or tumbling this season.

9. Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama: Another well-coached Alabama defensive back who seems to never be out of position, McKinstry has the combination of nuance and timing in coverage that makes him hard to find an advantage against.

10. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame: The freakishly long-armed son of former Chiefs All-Pro tackle John Alt, the younger Alt fits the part as a potential franchise tackle because of his strength and pass pro ability.

11. Leonard Taylor, DT, Miami: One of the rare 300 pounders who can kick out to defensive end, Taylor’s burst, agility and power give him a unique ceiling that is hard to match. Expect teams to be forgiving about his lack of refinement.

12. Kalen King, CB, Penn State: One of the slighter cornerbacks at the top of next year’s class, King makes up for his lack of weight by playing with a fearless temperament and the type of closing speed that pops off the tape.

13. Jared Verse, DE, Florida State: Verse passed on the 2023 draft, staying in Tallahassee to add weight and improve his game. The decision could lock him into a top-15 draft slot.

14. Michael Hall Jr, DT, Ohio State: Although used heavily in rotation last season, Hall’s hand speed and ability to quickly shed blocks should lead to both an increased role and plenty of buzz as a top interior defender this fall.

15. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State: Despite sharing the workload with the more highly acclaimed Harrison, Egbuka has been plenty productive. The slick route-runner is more polish than pop but could still be the second receiver off the board. Ohio State receivers are gaining a gold-star rating with NFL scouts.

16. Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State: The small market for first round guards could slide Jackson down the board, but he fits the prototype of a top interior lineman. His blend of length, control, and physicality is pro ready.

17. J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State: Former 5-star recruit Tuimoloau hasn’t hit the heights expected so far, but he has the size, athleticism, and potential to be a first-rounder if he can produce as a junior.

18. Jack Nelson, OT, Wisconsin: Nelson may be dinged by his technique, but his frame and movement skills allow him to get in the way and stay in the way at a high level in both the pass and run game.

19. Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson: While he will have to fight off the infamous “tweener” label, there is plenty to like about Carter. He brings outstanding speed with the versatility to play everything from middle linebacker to nickel corner.

20. Maason Smith, DT, LSU: A possible top-10 pick coming out of his freshman year, Smith’s torn ACL in the 2022 season opener and his one-game suspension to start 2023 raise more questions than answers. If he returns to his freshman form he should rise up the board.

21. Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson: Twitchy and fluid corners with the body type of Wiggins are hard to find, which figures to play into his push towards landing as the next early round corner from the Tigers.

22. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon: The narrative has flipped on Nix since his early struggles at Auburn. The uber athletic passer may lack touch, but he has starter tools that can be harnessed in the right environment.

23. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU: Nabers is a steady producer with good hands and enough juice to make plays after the catch, although he lacks the type of potential that is likely needed to push into the top ten picks.

24. Cooper DeJean, S, Iowa: DeJean started at safety but moved to cornerback in the middle of 2022 and put together a productive campaign outside. It would be no surprise if teams wind up mixed on his projection.

–By Mark Jarvis, Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) throws a touchdown pass against the Michigan State Spartans during the second quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA begins Pac-12 gauntlet with No. 15 Washington

Posted on | by Field Level Media

UCLA is working overtime to prepare for a Friday night date with No. 15 Washington in Pasadena.

Coach Chip Kelly has the Bruins at 4-0 for the first time since 2015, but to stay perfect UCLA will need to be on point — and points — as it begins a rugged stretch of Pac-12 contenders.

Washington is No. 5 in the nation in total offense at nearly 531 yards per game. The Huskies scored an average of 44 points in each of their victories.

Those are the kinds of numbers that drew the Bruins onto the practice field Sunday to put Kelly’s think-fast, act-fast plan into motion against the Huskies.

“Your conditioning is going to be tested,” Kelly said, adding that he’ll roll back the depth of the game plan. “What can the players handle?”

Handling the Huskies is a tall task.

Washington beat Stanford 40-22 last week in the Pac-12 opener as Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. completed 22 of 37 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns. The 309 passing yards was the lowest total in a game this season for the nation’s leading passer.

Penix’s 347 passing yards per game outpace Mississippi State’s Will Rogers by less than a yard, but the Washington quarterback has stacked up his totals with 46 fewer attempts.

The Huskies are using a balanced offensive approach. Washington has 142 rushing attempts and 154 passes.

First-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb cited room for improvement Monday, specifically Washington’s red-zone efficiency. The Huskies have scored touchdowns on 64 percent of their 25 trips inside the 20, the No. 72-ranked rate nationally.

“Need a little better second-down efficiency in the red zone. We had too many long opportunities down there, and you just start running out of real estate,” Grubb said. “You have a limited selection on the number of plays you can run down there.”

UCLA (4-0, 1-0) has yielded points in nine of its 10 opponent red-zone opportunities, but allowed a touchdown rate of 60 percent. The Bruins gave up two red-zone touchdowns in their Week 4 romp over Colorado.

The conference-opening win marked the third time this season UCLA scored 45 points, bolstering their 20th-ranked 41.8-point per game scoring average.

The Bruins will aim to continue that offensive success, but want to avoid a shootout against an opponent they know well.

“They’re coached really well,” UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson said Monday. “That staff came from Fresno [State], so obviously, we’re real familiar with what they run, and they’re real familiar with what we run.”

Current Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer was at Fresno State when the Bulldogs handed the 2021 Bruins their first loss of the season in a thrilling, 40-37 track meet decided on quarterback Jake Haener’s touchdown pass with 14 seconds remaining.

“It’s a lesson in keep fighting, keep playing,” DeBoer said on Monday. “It’s never over ‘til it’s over. And that game doesn’t really mean anything to this team, but those are things that just continue to give you that fighting mentality as a coach.”

UCLA’s defense enters the week gearing up to make life difficult for Penix and the Washington passing attack. The Bruins are among the nation’s top 24 defenses in sack creation with 11, paced by Laiatu Latu’s five, third-most in FBS.

“One of the strengths, if not the strength of their defense is their front seven,” Thompson-Robinson said of Washington. “I’m still going to go out there and do my same progressions and same reads. If they make some plays, they make some plays. But we’re going to stick to our game plan.”

Just behind Latu is Washington edge-rusher Bralen Trice with 4.5.

A win on a short week can be extra sweet, Kelly noted, especially with what’s coming down the pike. The Bruins face No. 12 Utah (3-1) and No. 13 Oregon (3-1) the next two weeks.

–Field Level Media

Sep 5, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Geoff Collins reacts after a call during the game against the Clemson Tigers during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Hot seat? Fire building for these 5 CFB coaches

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Nebraska’s firing of Scott Frost serves as a testament to the short leash for Power 5 head coaches.

Cutthroat? Yeah, that applies.

The Cornhuskers, miserable in one-score games since Frost took over, fired a native son who quarterbacked the program to its last national championship 25 years ago, and did so less than a month before his $15 million buyout halved.

Early-season divorces may become the new trend. Nebraska’s decision to move on from Frost was only a season after USC split with Clay Helton following Week 2, a decision made by a brass seeking a running start in pursuit of then-Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley.

Here are five coaches who are approaching win-or-walking papers territory:

–Neal Brown, West Virginia

Brown replaced a veritable legend in Larry Blakeney at Troy and coached the Trojans to unprecedented heights with three straight double-digit-win seasons and bowl game wins.

Stabilizing the Mountaineers after the turbulent tenure of Dana Holgorsen at West Virginia has proven more challenging. The Mountaineers have yet to win more than six games in any of Brown’s first three full seasons, and their only winning mark came in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

A West Virginia program that staked its reputation on explosive offenses for the better part of two decades stagnated on that side of the ball in Brown’s first three years, but in two losses to start 2022, the Mountaineers are struggling defensively.

A week after surrendering 55 points to Kansas, a loss to Towson in Week 3 would be curtains for Brown in Morgantown.

–Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech

Deviating from the triple-option offense after Paul Johnson’s 2018 retirement has hardly gone as planned for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets have averaged 16.7, 23.9 and 24 points per game in Geoff Collins’ three seasons as head coach, ranking Georgia Tech consistently in the bottom-third of Power 5 offenses.

The Yellow Jackets have put up 45 total points through the first two games of 2022, and that number may prove skewed as the season progresses with Georgia Tech registering 35 against FCS opponent Western Carolina.

Each of Collins’ first three teams have finished with three wins to match the worst record of Johnson’s entire tenure. A fourth straight season of such futility is grounds for a shake-up.

–Herm Edwards, Arizona State

He’s still playing to win the game. But you might not know it.

Winning solves a lot of problems, but Arizona State simply has not won in big spots enough while under the pall of an NCAA investigation.

Allegations of recruiting violations preceded an exodus of assistant coaches in Edwards’ charge, and the Sun Devils underwent significant roster changes with transfer-portal departures. The turnover and investigation add an extra layer of malaise to a tenure that has seen Arizona State reach three bowl games under Edwards, but fail to reach a Pac-12 Championship Game in a down period for the conference.

Arizona State’s lopsided Week 2 loss at Oklahoma State reflected the Sun Devils’ struggles in marquee matchups under Edwards — and they have three such games on the upcoming slate with Utah, USC and Washington to start conference play.

–Bryan Harsin, Auburn

Perhaps an “Orange Out” upset of Penn State on Saturday night can spare a fella, but the Nittany Lions aren’t exactly championship material at the moment.

There was a time not long ago when suggesting a coach in just his second season occupied a hot seat may have seemed absurd, barring major malfeasance.

If it’s not enough to be little brother to the dynastic Alabama program, there’s also the notion that boosters and the athletic department have immediate national championship aspirations. That means patience among fans will drop proportionally to the rise in coaches’ paychecks.

Look no further than Florida State, which Auburn played for the 2013 season’s national title, and its split from Willie Taggart in 2019 after just 21 games.

For Harsin at Auburn, the hire looked like an odd fit from the outset. Harsin won consistently at his alma mater, Boise State, but outside of a tumultuous two years as an offensive coordinator at Texas and one season as head coach at Arkansas State, worked exclusively in the West.

A disastrous finish to 2021 with five straight losses and a less-than-inspiring 2-0 start to 2022, including a scraped-out 24-16 defeat of San Jose State, puts the heat on Harsin early. Auburn is seemingly losing ground to SEC counterparts Arkansas, Ole Miss and Mississippi State while still playing catch-up to Alabama and Georgia.

–Scott Satterfield, Louisville

Scott Satterfield’s tenure at alma mater Appalachian State elevated the program from FCS powerhouse to Top 25-caliber FBS program. His stint at Louisville has come nowhere near the same level of success, with the Cardinals enduring sub-.500 finishes after Satterfield’s 8-5 debut in 2019.

Beating UCF in Week 2 offers some reprieve, but a 31-7 loss at Syracuse in the opener set an ominous tone for Louisville’s season. The fact that the Cardinals continuing to scratch for a middling record while in-state rival Kentucky is on a meteoric ascent does Satterfield little favor — particularly with the Wildcats looming as the final opponent of this regular season.

–By Kyle Kensing, Field Level Media

Pitt begins life without quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) on Thursday night (file photo/Imagn).

No. 17 Pitt draws big backing in Backyard Brawl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 17 Pitt opens the season Thursday night in the first playing of the Backyard Brawl rivalry with West Virginia since 2011.

Host Pittsburgh is favored by 7 to 7.5 points and getting big backing from the public in a meeting of former USC quarterbacks.

The primetime Thursday game is the most wagered-on event this week at both BetRivers and BetMGM ahead of Saturday’s matchup of Top 5 teams in Columbus between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Notre Dame.

Thursday’s game is the debut of former Trojans quarterback Kedon Slovis, the chosen replacement for NFL draft pick Kenny Pickett (Steelers). He draws West Virginia’s new starting QB — and fellow former Trojans signal-caller — JT Daniels.

The Pitt money line (-275 as of Thursday morning) is the most popular bet by ticket count at BetRivers, while Pitt to cover -7.5 is the most popular wager by total handle.

Pitt -7 is the most bet game and bet type (spread) at BetMGM.

–Field Level Media

Jul 27, 2021; Hollywood, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Chip Kelly speaks with the media during the Pac-12 football Media Day at the W Hollywood. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

CFB Week 0 lines: Fresno State, UCLA lines climbing

Posted on | by Field Level Media

UCLA opened as an 11.5-point favorite but the Bruins are currently sitting at minus-17 over Hawaii in their opener.

There are five total college football games involving major conference teams on Aug. 28, which has formally been dubbed “Week 0.”

The Bruins are the second-biggest favorite of the opening weekend in college football with Fresno State (-27.5) the biggest heavy. Visiting UConn opened at +26.5 points but could fall to a four-touchdown dog by kickoff.

A win bet on Fresno State — also known as the moneyline — has -10000 odds, or an implied probability of 99.01 percent. Spelled out further, a bettor would need to wager $100 on the moneyline to win $1.

UCLA and Hawaii hold the distinction for the highest over-under of Week 0 at 70.

Week 1 of college football season gets underway Sept. 1 with UAB facing Jacksonville State, the appetizer for a smorgasbord on tap for Labor Day weekend. Multiple games are scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, which features four top-20 matchups, none more anticipated than No. 5 Georgia against No. 3 Clemson in the primetime game on ABC.

The Tigers are 3.5-point favorites and have a -160 moneyline in the neutral site game in Charlotte, N.C.

No. 19 Penn State and No. 12 Wisconsin play at noon ET, and No. 1 Alabama faces No. 14 Miami at 3:30 p.m. ET, the same kickoff slot for Indiana (No. 17) at Iowa (No. 18). Alabama, the national championship favorite at +260 entering the season, is favored by 18.5 points over the Hurricanes.

The lone Power 5 matchup of Week 0 is a Big Ten game in Champaign, Ill., where the Fighting Illini opened as 9.5-point home underdogs. That line is closing almost by the day with Nebraska sitting as 7-point favorites as of Wednesday at noon ET.

That conference game kicks off the five-game slate at noon CT with a national TV audience on FOX. Illinois is a popular pick to surprise in former Wisconsin and Arkansas coach Bret Bielema’s debut season.

Illinois’ moneyline is +220 after opening at +280.

In the only other game on the board for the late August weekend, UTEP holds firm as 9.5-point favorites at New Mexico State in a line that hasn’t moved since the morning odds were first released.

There is no line set for Southern Utah at San Jose State, which is the final game of Aug. 28 (10 p.m. ET).

All lines mentioned above are courtesy of PointsBetUSA.

–Field Level Media