The rolling tides couldn’t penetrate Tallahassee. Hurricanes swallowed Catholic prayers in Miami. Grown men cried to a 90-year-old furry. Week 1 of college football didn’t disappoint. But if you missed some of the Labor Day action because your significant other dragged you to a family event where DraftKings was frowned upon, here’s what you need to know.
Social Media Has Ruined Development
The masses have already given up on Arch. Ryan Williams and Jeremiah Smith are being labeled “overrated.” Fans are saying Georgia made a mistake letting Beck walk. These takes are drastic, but they’re also popular for some reason.
There’s an elephant in the room we’ll approach (but not poach, since they’re endangered). For three quarters, Arch was bad. Not “mid.” Not “ahhh, he missed a couple throws.” He was straight-up bad — late on reads, not stepping into throws, off-target accuracy, and throwing ill-advised sidearm passes. And yet, that’s all Twitter is talking about.
What people aren’t discussing is the left sideline drop in the bucket, or the beautiful touchdown pass that sparked a comeback attempt. In the fourth quarter, Arch looked great. But that part doesn’t seem to matter in the discourse.
Arch will be fine. Ryan Williams and Jeremiah Smith will stop dropping balls. Alabama isn’t going 0–12. In 2004, Vince Young went 8-for-23 for 86 yards. In today’s world, TikTok coaches wouldn’t even let him back on the field. But back then, development was rationalized. A few months later, he hoisted a Rose Bowl MVP trophy.
A larger sample size creates more room for error — but also more room for growth. Let players and situations evolve. Don’t kill the plant before it even gets a chance to sprout.
SECond to None?
Here’s a rational take with a sufficient sample size: the SEC is no longer the untouchable behemoth of college football.
That said, two things can still be true:
- It’s still the best conference in the country.
- The gap between them and everyone else is smaller than ever.
Think I’m being dramatic? That’s fine! But Ohio State beat Texas. Florida State beat Bama. UTSA gave Texas A&M a scare. Too recent? Fair. Look back further: USC over LSU last year. Ohio State over Texas. Notre Dame over Georgia. Michigan over Alabama in Saban’s swan song.
Yes, the SEC remains elite. But parity is creeping in. NIL has redistributed talent — players go to schools they never would’ve considered before. And top-tier recruits aren’t waiting three years on Bama’s bench; they’re playing immediately at places like Duke.
Honestly, this is a good thing. College football is becoming more like college basketball in the best ways. Remember the 2023 Final Four with San Diego State, FAU, Gonzaga, and Miami? I’m dying for that kind of chaos on the gridiron.
Geaux for Three?
This isn’t an overreaction. We’ve been saying it since preseason: Garrett Nussmeier is the truth. Following in the footsteps of Joe and Jayden, he’s clearly the most pro-ready quarterback in college football — and in my opinion, the early Heisman front-runner.
There’s a clip on Twitter (note to self: start making breakdowns) that shows exactly what sets him apart. LSU’s offensive line not elite? Doesn’t matter. Nuss is a field general shifting protections, getting the look he wants. Too many college QBs just throw the ball. Nuss plays quarterback. The game is chess, and he’s calling checkmate.
Best part for LSU? Clemson might be the best defense they’ll face all season. That front is loaded with pros, and LSU overcame it. With the most challenging test behind them, Nuss can run up his draft grade.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.