College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's top games and examin...

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's top games and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h3>Georgia's underwhelming win in Cocktail Party</h3><p>Let's step into the trust tree for a moment and share what could be a controversial opinion: we might be overrating Georgia. After the Bulldogs' late comeback win over a 3-5 Florida team that just fired its coach, it's clear this is a very good team, but not the elite outfit we've grown accustomed to under Kirby Smart.</p><p>The Bulldogs and Gators looked incredibly even throughout the vast majority of the contest, with Georgia once again needing some magic in the final quarter to turn a loss into a victory and remain in the race for the conference title game. For those keeping track at home, that's now three SEC games that Georgia needed late dramatics to win after previously needing a touchdown in the last three minutes to force overtime at Tennessee and a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter to beat Ole Miss. The Bulldogs should definitely be commended for their resiliency in those contests, but at a certain point we need to talk about their inability to separate.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Much of that comes down to a defensive line that simply isn't doing much to get pressure. The Bulldogs rank 127th nationally in sacks and 133rd of 136 FBS programs in tackles for loss. That seems unfathomable given the history of defensive-line freaks that Smart has sent to the NFL, but that's where we sit today.</p><p>Texas A&amp;M and Alabama are certainly the class of the conference at this point, with Georgia and Ole Miss a notch below. All four could make the CFP field if everything breaks right. However, another early exit for the Bulldogs seems likely based on what we have seen as of late.</p><h3>It's never easy, but Texas is live for playoff</h3><p>Reach out and check on any Texas fans you may have in your life, the past month has likely aged them at least 10 years. The Longhorns once again supplied one of the more dramatic finishes of the week, surviving a furious 21-0 rally in the fourth quarter by Vanderbilt to keep their playoff hopes alive with a three-point victory. That comes on the heels of back-to-back overtime victories on the road against Kentucky and Mississippi State.</p><p>First, the good: Arch Manning looked solid throughout the contest with 328 yards passing and three touchdowns. The first-year starter had only eight incompletions on the day and the offense looked the best it has all season versus power conference competition. For perhaps the first time this season, Manning received excellent protection up front, with Vanderbilt failing to register a sack. The production at this point doesn't yet scream "No. 1 overall pick," but it's a long way from "He only gets attention because of his last name."</p><p>Okay, now the bad: What the heck was that fourth quarter? The Commodores outgained Texas 238-40 in yards over the final 15 minutes, popping off an outrageous 11.3 yards per play. We can attribute some of that production to a prevent defense with a big lead, but it's still alarming things got close enough for a stressful onside kick in the final minute.</p><p>"The games in November are the ones they remember," Sarkisian said afterwards, according to the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3384354" href="https://thescore.com/news/3384354">Associated Press</a>. "I wish we would have finished a little better, but that's OK. It gives me something to rip their (butts) about Monday."</p><p>A bye week awaits Texas before a three-game stretch - at Georgia, vs. Arkansas, and vs. Texas A&amp;M - that will decide whether the Longhorns return to the CFP.</p><h3>Annual Miami crashout is here</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808139/cropped_GettyImages-2244488767.jpg?ts=1762035720" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808139/w220xh124_GettyImages-2244488767.jpg?ts=1762035720 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808139/w320xh180_GettyImages-2244488767.jpg?ts=1762035720 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808139/w640xh360_GettyImages-2244488767.jpg?ts=1762035720 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808139/w768xh432_GettyImages-2244488767.jpg?ts=1762035720 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808139/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2244488767.jpg?ts=1762035720 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The fall brings about a number of annual traditions to celebrate across the country: Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Mario Cristobal's Miami losing ACC games as a large favorite down the stretch to inevitably miss the playoffs. The latter is usually reserved for late November, but the Hurricanes moved things up this year with a loss at SMU - the first Mustangs home win over a top-10 team in 51 years. That's now the second setback of the season for Miami and it severely dents its playoff chances once again.</p><p>The Hurricanes are now an eye-popping 4-12 once the calendar hits November during Cristobal's tenure. Miami's early-season results the past few seasons have shown a playoff-caliber team that should be able to compete with anybody in the nation. The post-October swoon has shown the opposite, as the uber-talented Hurricanes consistently underperform as crunch time beckons. Last year it was a leaky defense letting down Cam Ward and the nation's top offense. This time out, it's Carson Beck's interceptions weighing down the Canes, with the Georgia transfer now throwing six in the two losses this season.</p><h3>Ohio State Air Force owns the skies</h3><p>Look, almost any quarterback in the country could likely put up numbers with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate as the wide receivers. That might be a fun fourth-quarter game for Ohio State blowouts: Let a non-QB play the position just to see what happens. However, even with the alien squad out wide, what Julian Sayin is doing in his first season as the starting quarterback is remarkable. Sayin absolutely torched Penn State on Saturday, throwing for 316 yards and four touchdowns on a sizzling 20-for-23 performance. You don't need an MIT degree to understand that is more touchdowns than incomplete passes.</p><p>We knew Smith and Tate would be the top receiver duo in the nation, but Sayin was a bit of a question mark as a first-time starter for the defending national champions. Surely there would be some growing pains for a man whose last serious game action was in high school, right? Um, no. </p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Julian Sayin 3 games of 85% completed, 300 pass yards &amp; 4 passing TD's this season...<br><br>The most in FBS.</p>— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) <a href="https://twitter.com/colecubelic/status/1984705573120573547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Not only is Sayin starring for a first-year starter, but he's arguably playing the best of any quarterback in college football already.</p><h3>Fernando's an elite big brother</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808156/cropped_GettyImages-2243630058.jpg?ts=1762038680" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808156/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243630058.jpg?ts=1762038680 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808156/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243630058.jpg?ts=1762038680 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808156/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243630058.jpg?ts=1762038680 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808156/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243630058.jpg?ts=1762038680 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/808156/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243630058.jpg?ts=1762038680 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Winner, Heisman contender, possible first overall pick. You can call Fernando Mendoza many things this year, but don't forget to add elite big brother to the description. One of the unique things about the Indiana quarterback room is that Fernando is joined by his brother Alberto, who is a freshman backup with the Hoosiers. One of the benefits of Indiana blowing the doors off every single opponent on the schedule is that younger brother has gotten plenty of action in the fourth quarters. He once again got some action Saturday with Indiana racing out to a massive 48-10 lead on Maryland. That allowed the younger Mendoza to throw his fourth touchdown of the season and rip off a 53-yard run, much to the <a href="https://x.com/CBSSportsCFB/status/1984751040764297638">delight of his older brother</a>. Another dominant win makes it 111-16 the last two weeks for Indiana on the scoreboard - performances that have the Hoosiers firmly alongside Ohio State as the clear choices for most impressive teams so far this season.</p><h3>Questionable call adds to Clemson misery</h3><p>Roughly 99% of the time, it's a cop-out when fans, coaches, and players blame the officiating for a loss. We'll give Clemson fans a pass if they want to file what happened Saturday in the other 1%. Look, we aren't going to absolve the Tigers for their performance the entire game, but they should have had the game won in the final minute after a stop on fourth-and-11 while holding a seven-point edge. However, the back judge deemed pass interference had occurred despite the fact it was the Clemson defender who went flying on the play.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="tl" dir="ltr">hahahhaa HOW <a href="https://t.co/IzxQEJZL1v">https://t.co/IzxQEJZL1v</a> <a href="https://t.co/vF0npBFHcT">pic.twitter.com/vF0npBFHcT</a></p>— Liam Blutman (@Blutman27) <a href="https://twitter.com/Blutman27/status/1984705016641302535?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>That call gave Duke a first down inside the 5-yard line, which it would promptly cash for a touchdown. While we can pin some of this on the pass interference call, props must be given to the Blue Devils' Manny Diaz for opting to try a 2-point conversion and win instead of heading to overtime. That paid off with a slick play to secure Duke's first win at Clemson since 1980.</p><p>It's the latest in a season of horrors for Dabo Swinney's Tigers, who are now 3-6 on the campaign and have turned Death Valley into the happiest place on earth for opponents. The defending ACC champs are now 2-3 since Swinney's now infamous "if Clemson's tired of winning, they can send me on my way," quote from mid-September.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Clemson football has now lost SIX straight home games to power conference teams for the first time since 1970-71. Sitting at 1-4 at home w/ two home games left, they'll finish with a losing home record for the first time since 1998. 2-4 is also their worst ACC start since '98</p>— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) <a href="https://twitter.com/chapelfowler/status/1984708886801039361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/33078545/related

CFB Blitz: Early Week 10 takeaways

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's top games and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h3>Marcel Reed makes Heisman statement</h3><p>A wide-open race for the Heisman Trophy might be narrowing thanks to Marcel Reed's brilliant trip to Death Valley. The Texas A&amp;M quarterback was a problem for LSU from the jump, putting up over 300 total yards of offense and four touchdowns in a blowout victory.</p><p>Reed now has 23 touchdowns on the season for the 8-0 Aggies, who are without question the top SEC team at this point in the year. He's an explosive play waiting to happen, averaging 16.8 yards per completion and over 8 yards per rush attempt. Perhaps most impressive is Reed's performances in hostile environments, leading Texas A&amp;M to 41 and 49-point efforts on the road at Notre Dame and LSU, respectively.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Reed won't have to wait long to take his show on the road. The Aggies have a trip to No. 15 Missouri awaiting and a blockbuster contest in Austin against Texas to close the schedule.</p><h3>Brian Kelly can probably start packing</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807226/cropped_GettyImages-2243307606.jpg?ts=1761449500" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807226/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243307606.jpg?ts=1761449500 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807226/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243307606.jpg?ts=1761449500 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807226/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243307606.jpg?ts=1761449500 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807226/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243307606.jpg?ts=1761449500 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807226/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243307606.jpg?ts=1761449500 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Tyler Kaufman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>From Nick Saban to Les Miles to Ed Orgeron, every permanent head coach LSU has employed since 2000 has won the national championship. But Brian Kelly stopping that streak is probably a safe bet. No, the program likely won't fire him on Sunday, but make no mistake, it's over for the fourth-year frontman in Baton Rouge. The once vaunted Tiger Stadium - widely regarded as the toughest place to play in college football - looked like a playpen Saturday as Texas A&amp;M dominated in a 49-25 win.</p><p>The Tigers' offense was again the glaring issue, struggling to run the ball, protect Garrett Nussmeier, or complete anything of note downfield. Only two power-conference teams in the country had yet to score more than 24 points in an FBS-versus-FBS game this season: LSU and North Carolina. The Tigers' last-second score to hit 25 got them off that list, but anytime you're mentioned alongside Bill Belichick's brief collegiate tenure, it's time to start packing the house up.</p><p>The crowd voiced their displeasure down the stretch, with "Fire Brian Kelly" chants spreading throughout the stadium. While that's certainly the desired outcome, the Tigers need to hit the fundraising trail before anything happens. <a href="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/football/coach">According to USA Today</a>, Kelly's buyout would be almost $54 million if he's fired before Dec. 1.</p><h3>Print the Ole Miss CFP T-shirts</h3><p>A 7-1 record and a final month that won't see Ole Miss play a ranked opponent or leave the state of Mississippi? Print the damn CFP T-shirts, the Rebels are going to the playoffs. Lane Kiffin grabbed the biggest road win of his tenure in Oxford on Saturday, with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and a stout defensive effort delivering a victory at Oklahoma. That sets Ole Miss up as strongly as any team in the nation to trot into the CFP. And before you say it - yes, we know Kiffin and the Rebels blew it down the stretch last year. But it feels different this time around.</p><p>Chambliss - who was playing Division II football last year - excelled against one of the nation's top defensive units, throwing for 315 yards and adding 53 on the ground. Still, Kiffin has proven over time that he can put up points with 11 dudes off the street on offense. The defense is what stood out most Saturday, putting on perhaps the most impressive effort of the season. Oklahoma hit two explosive touchdowns of 65-plus yards, but outside of those scores, it was just 218 total yards on 60 plays. The Sooners were just 4-for-14 on third down and gave up three sacks and six tackles for loss.</p><p>As you can guess, Lane was certainly feeling himself after the massive victory.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"A little quieter now than before." 🔥<br><br>Lane Kiffin was feeling it after a big-time road win over Oklahoma 😤 <a href="https://t.co/Z1PA7xvb4a">pic.twitter.com/Z1PA7xvb4a</a></p>— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1982179394958307405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Outside of Oklahoma, there's certainly one fan base that won't be thrilled with the result: those who support Florida. Kiffin is widely regarded as the favorite for the Gators' head coaching job after the program fired Billy Napier last week. However, a playoff run with the Rebels would push back Florida's timeline to speak with Kiffin and increase the likelihood he stays in Oxford.</p><h3>Drama kings of Texas</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807204/cropped_GettyImages-2243314092.jpg?ts=1761440727" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807204/w220xh124_GettyImages-2243314092.jpg?ts=1761440727 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807204/w320xh180_GettyImages-2243314092.jpg?ts=1761440727 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807204/w640xh360_GettyImages-2243314092.jpg?ts=1761440727 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807204/w768xh432_GettyImages-2243314092.jpg?ts=1761440727 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807204/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2243314092.jpg?ts=1761440727 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Justin Ford / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The idea that everything is bigger in Texas certainly extends to the drama surrounding the Longhorns. Last week, the offense posted just 179 total yards but somehow pulled off an overtime win at Kentucky thanks to a goal-line stand. However, that was boring compared to what the team went through Saturday.</p><p>First came a <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3377686" href="https://thescore.com/news/3377686">report in the morning</a> that Steve Sarkisian's representatives had engaged in discussions with NFL decision-makers about head coaching vacancies. That prompted his agency to deny the activity a few hours later in a statement - not exactly what you want your team dealing with right before a game. Texas then looked sluggish at Mississippi State for the opening three quarters, eventually trailing 31-14 heading to the fourth, surely too big a deficit to overcome on the road, right?</p><p>The Longhorns roared back with 24 points in the final 15 minutes, forcing overtime on <a href="https://x.com/TexasFootball/status/1982231532505846126">Ryan Niblett's 79-yard punt return</a> for a touchdown. Want to add drama in the extra session? How 'bout Arch Manning, who was having his best performance of the year, exiting with an injury? Backup Matthew Caldwell entered and tossed an absolute dime on his only pass of the contest - a <a data-in-app-uri="" href="">10-yard throw to Emmett Mosley</a> for the game-winning score.</p><p>Another dramatic win for the Longhorns keeps them teetering on the line of playoff contention for another week. As for Mississippi State, a litany of questionable decisions in the fourth quarter and overtime highlighted exactly why the Bulldogs have lost 16 straight SEC games.</p><h3>Michigan runs all over Sparty</h3><p>Jim Harbaugh wasn't on the sideline, but you can picture the man clad in his khakis and blue polo smiling while watching Michigan run all over Michigan State on Saturday. The Wolverines piled up 49 rush attempts on the Spartans - led by 26 from Justice Haynes - en route to a 31-20 win in the annual rivalry game.</p><p>Michigan showed last year that Sherrone Moore wasn't shy about completely abandoning the passing attack and playing smashmouth football, and that was the approach Saturday. Bryce Underwood had just 27 yards passing in the second half, but the run game torched the Spartans for 189 on the ground in the final 30 minutes.</p><p>That's how you get the job done on the road and take down your in-state rival for the fourth straight year. The Wolverines' final month of the season features three matchups against unranked teams before hosting the blockbuster with Ohio State. They'll need the rushing attack we saw in their latest win if they're going to stun the Buckeyes again.</p><p>The Spartans drop to 0-5 in Big Ten play in another disappointing showing under Jonathan Smith. Thankfully for the fans in East Lansing, basketball season is officially here.</p><h3>Bama's dynamic duo rises in the moment</h3><p>They might not have reached the iconic status of legendary duos like Mario and Luigi, Batman and Robin, Outkast, or Tom and Greg from "Succession," but when you need a perfect play in a big moment, there's no better combo in college football than Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb.</p><p>The coach-coordinator duo made magic with perfect play-calling on numerous occasions at Washington, and they've brought that to Alabama with Grubb on staff after he spent last season in the NFL. That was evident in the clutch at South Carolina on Saturday, with the Crimson Tide desperately needing a two-point conversion to tie the game late.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">WE GOT DRAMA 🍿 <br><br>ALABAMA COMPLETES THE 2-PT CONVERSION TO TIE THE GAME 😳 <a href="https://t.co/ohL3VyPCgP">pic.twitter.com/ohL3VyPCgP</a></p>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1982220152872599687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>They weren't done there, making an excellent running call for receiver Germie Bernard in the final minute to win the contest - albeit against a defense that looked like they were letting Alabama score to get the ball back.</p><p>It certainly wasn't the prettiest outing for Alabama, but that's understandable given the gauntlet it just ran. The Gamecocks were the first unranked opponent in the Crimson Tide's last five games, an incredible run that DeBoer's program somehow navigated perfectly.</p><p>Alabama gets a chance to catch its breath for a week before facing LSU off the bye. Oh, and black-hoodie DeBoer is now 15-2 when wearing his favorite garment on the sideline.</p><h3>Indiana smashes glass slippers</h3><p>The all-business and somewhat surly Curt Cignetti definitely gives off the vibe of someone who has no time for fairy tales. The second-year Indiana coach confirmed that on Saturday, smashing Cinderella UCLA's glass slipper with an emphatic 56-6 beatdown at home. The loss ended the Bruins' three-game conference winning streak since naming Tim Skipper the interim head coach and Jerry Neuheisel Jr. as offensive coordinator.</p><p>Cignetti has made it clear: the scoreboard operator should be ready to work during home games while he's in Bloomington. With Saturday's blowout in the books, the Hoosiers are now averaging 34.5 points per game under Cignetti in home contests against Big Ten opponents. A lights-out defense makes life hell for any road team, something Indiana rolls out every week. On Saturday, the Hoosiers posted three sacks, seven tackles for loss, and forced three turnovers. The Bruins barely topped the 200-yard mark for the game on a meager 3.8 yards per play.</p><p>The Hoosiers hit the road three times in their final four outings, but Maryland, wounded Penn State, and Purdue aren't exactly a murderers' row. Add a home contest with Wisconsin, and it's tough to see anything other than an undefeated Hoosiers in the Big Ten title game at the start of December.</p><h3>Eyes on Vanderbilt</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807200/cropped_GettyImages-2242989223.jpg?ts=1761439421" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807200/w220xh124_GettyImages-2242989223.jpg?ts=1761439421 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807200/w320xh180_GettyImages-2242989223.jpg?ts=1761439421 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807200/w640xh360_GettyImages-2242989223.jpg?ts=1761439421 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807200/w768xh432_GettyImages-2242989223.jpg?ts=1761439421 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/807200/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2242989223.jpg?ts=1761439421 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>For the first time ever, millions of people watched Vanderbilt open a football season 7-1 on Saturday. No, it's not the only time the Commodores have hit that number, but with fewer than 8,000 TVs nationwide in 1941, it's safe to say the program's start wasn't heavily watched. Clark Lea's Vanderbilt continued its unbelievable surge with ESPN's College GameDay in town, taking down No. 15 Missouri in an absolute brawl in Nashville. It certainly wasn't the prettiest contest, with the Commodores barely topping 250 yards in total offense. But the defense turned in an outstanding showing down the stretch to hold the line.</p><p>Missouri held the ball for a whopping 36 minutes of action, running 78 plays in the contest compared to 45 for Vanderbilt. No matter the discrepancy, the defense held when needed, including on a last-second Hail Mary pass in the dying seconds. As he's done all season, Diego Pavia supplied the key moment on offense, plunging in for the eventual winning touchdown in the final minutes.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">DIEGO PAVIA. CLUTCH.<br><br>VANDY TAKES THE LEAD WITH LESS THAN TWO MINUTES LEFT 🔥 <br><br>Watch now on ESPN and the ESPN App <a href="https://t.co/nHrXp4OVzi">pic.twitter.com/nHrXp4OVzi</a></p>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1982219233070137796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Commodores still have some work to do, but it might be time to start having conversations with your great-grandparents about a top-five Vanderbilt. After all, they're the only ones who won't think you're crazy, given the last time that happened.</p><h3>Good or lucky, BYU deserves our attention</h3><p>Five power conference programs entered Saturday undefeated, but only BYU found itself ranked outside the AP Poll's top 10. Whether it was due to an underwhelming schedule or a lack of dominant wins, the Cougars didn't receive the same level of respect nationally as the other unbeaten teams. Voters won't be able to keep BYU on the outside this week after a significant road win at Iowa State - a game that essentially flipped on a special-teams error.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">IOWA STATE TOUCHES THE PUNT AND BYU COMES UP WITH IT 😱<a href="https://twitter.com/BYUfootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BYUFootball</a> <a href="https://t.co/VroyTPW95w">pic.twitter.com/VroyTPW95w</a></p>— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1982210414936261028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>A massive blunder on punt coverage gifted BYU the ball in Iowa State territory, setting up the go-ahead touchdown. The Cougars followed with a pick-6 on the next drive, turning what was once a 14-point deficit into a stunning 14-point win to put themselves 8-0 for the second straight season - the first time the program has ever done that.</p><p>An undefeated team with a true freshman quarterback named Bear Bachmeier - who compiled more than 350 total yards Saturday - should probably be getting more of our attention. Expect that to change after the bye week with a trip to Texas Tech.</p><h3>Scoring bingo for Iowa</h3><p>Collect your prize if you were playing Iowa scoring bingo for Saturday's game versus Minnesota. The Hawkeyes put up points early and often on the Golden Gophers, with extra credit given for the variety of attack in the 41-3 blowout.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Iowa has hit for the scoring cycle:<br><br>✅TD run<br>✅TD pass<br>✅FG<br>✅Pick 6<br>✅Punt return TD</p>— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hassel_Chris/status/1982183938522054998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Hawkeyes putting up that many points while finishing with less than 300 yards of total offense might be the most on-brand stat line in college football. Don't look now, but after losses to Iowa State and Indiana, Iowa is now firmly in the mix to make some noise in the Big Ten down the stretch. The Hawkeyes hit the bye week with a visit from No. 6 Oregon on deck when they return.</p>

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CFB Blitz: Takeaways from Week 9's biggest games

The Billy Napier era at Florida is finally over.  Athletic director Scott Stricklin fired the emb...

<p>The Billy Napier era at Florida is finally over.</p><p>Athletic director Scott Stricklin fired the embattled coach Sunday following Saturday's narrow win over Mississippi State, the school announced.</p><p>Napier's dismissal had been rumored for weeks, but the administration opted to wait for an open date. The Gators don't play again until Nov. 1, their annual rivalry game with Georgia.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>While Napier's tenure had positive moments, he was never able to sustain enough momentum to get the program back among the SEC's elite. He finishes with a 22-23 overall record with 12 conference wins in four seasons.</p><p>Napier seemed destined for the unemployment line last season after the Gators started his third campaign 4-3. However, the team rallied down the stretch with four straight wins. That was enough for Florida's brass to give him one more chance with quarterback DJ Lagway looking like an emerging star.</p><p>That momentum had evaporated by Week 2, with the Gators falling at home to South Florida in a stunning loss that essentially determined Napier's fate. Subsequent losses to Miami, LSU, and Texas A&amp;M removed any shine from a home victory over Texas, and the move became a matter of when, not if.</p><p>Florida's football program hasn't won more than eight games since 2019. It's a steep decline from the dynasty Urban Meyer built in Gainesville that won national titles in 2006 and 2008.</p><p>Stricklin will now lead the search to hire his third head coach for the Gators. The longtime athletic director previously brought in Dan Mullen and Napier. Wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales will serve as Florida's interim head coach for the remainder of the season.</p>

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 18: Head Coach Billy Napier of the Florida Gators arrives during Gator Walk before the start of a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Gainesville, Florida.

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Florida fires Napier after 3-4 start

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CFB Blitz: Week 8 takeaways

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CFB Blitz: Week 7 takeaways

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's top games and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h3>Miami wins state championship</h3><p>Miami's clearly established itself as the best the state of Florida has to offer this year, even with some trademark questionable clock management from Mario Cristobal down the stretch Saturday at Florida State. The final 28-22 score didn't tell the whole story - the Seminoles' final 17 points in the fourth quarter were a bit of a "lipstick on a pig" situation.</p><p>Sometimes it takes a deep dive to decipher what separated two teams, but it was crystal clear in this case: Florida State couldn't stop turning the ball over and Miami kept the stat sheet clean. Two Tommy Castellanos interceptions and an Ousmane Kromah fumble gave the Hurricanes quality field position throughout. As a result, Miami had to run just 59 plays all night, with four of those producing touchdown passes from Carson Beck. His preferred target was once again freshman Malachi Toney, who took in multiple long touchdowns.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MALACHI TONEY RUNS IT IN AGAIN 😤 <br><br>Watch Miami-Florida State on ABC and the ESPN App <a href="https://t.co/DVDLKmQS6V">pic.twitter.com/DVDLKmQS6V</a></p>— ESPN (@espn) <a href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1974653057938952499?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Hurricanes have now completed the Sunshine State trifecta with victories over Florida, South Florida, and Florida State. In a year already filled with upsets, Miami's looked like one of the most complete teams in the country.</p><p>There are now zero ranked teams left on the Hurricanes' schedule, giving them a seemingly comfortable path to both the ACC title game and the College Football Playoff. Of course, this is Cristobal's Miami, which fell short in the same situation last season - but this first month suggests "The U" might truly be back.</p><p>As for the Seminoles, their season-opening win over Alabama becomes more puzzling by the week. Back-to-back ACC losses drop them to 1-9 in their last 10 conference games.</p><h3>Ohio State's defense is ... better?</h3><p>With NFL pros littered across the field last season, Ohio State's defense led the country by allowing just 12.9 points per game en route to the national title. The offseason saw eight of 11 starters depart and coordinator Jim Knowles leave for rival Penn State ... and it hasn't mattered whatsoever. The Buckeyes' defense hasn't just maintained its elite level - it's elevated to a place we haven't seen in a long time.</p><p>Forget betting anytime touchdown scorers for Ohio State opponents - the Buckeyes are allowing five points per contest through five games. The latest victim is Minnesota, a team held below 100 yards passing and 75 yards rushing in a 38-point blowout. Outside of Caleb Downs, these Buckeyes names might not impress like last year's defensive roster, but it's the first week of October. Give it time and the likes of Sonny Styles, Caden Curry and Payton Pierce will get the respect they deserve.</p><h3>Nasty Texas A&amp;M is back</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804275/cropped_GettyImages-2239273453.jpg?ts=1759633338" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804275/w220xh124_GettyImages-2239273453.jpg?ts=1759633338 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804275/w320xh180_GettyImages-2239273453.jpg?ts=1759633338 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804275/w640xh360_GettyImages-2239273453.jpg?ts=1759633338 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804275/w768xh432_GettyImages-2239273453.jpg?ts=1759633338 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804275/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2239273453.jpg?ts=1759633338 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jack Gorman / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Texas A&amp;M was able to avoid defeat, but allowing 86 points across its opening three games was a surprise for a Mike Elko-coached team. The defensive wizard made his career on nasty, hard-nosed football, only to see the Aggies getting involved in weekly shootouts. Consider the nastiness back in College Station - just ask Auburn and Mississippi State.</p><p>Last week versus the Tigers, the Aggies rushed for 207 yards and allowed 177. Saturday, Texas A&amp;M racked up 300 yards on the ground against 219 total yards for the Bulldogs. It doesn't take an advanced degree in football to understand you'll probably win 99% of games where you outrush the opponent's entire offensive output.</p><h3>That's the Nico UCLA wanted</h3><p>There are 136 programs at the FBS level. Before Saturday, 135 of them had led at some point in a game this season. The only one that hadn't was a UCLA team that's already fired its head coach and offensive coordinator. Surely that state of affairs wouldn't change with No. 7 Penn State coming to town, right? Turns out, the secret to unlocking Nico Iamaleava and the Bruins' attack was 33-year-old Jerry Neuheisel - a man who had never served as an offensive coordinator before this game.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/mQc4pejrt1">pic.twitter.com/mQc4pejrt1</a></p>— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) <a href="https://twitter.com/nocontextcfb/status/1974597870038011993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Iamaleava dominated Penn State's defense, throwing for 166 yards and two touchdowns while running 16 times for 128 yards and three scores. The Bruins outgained Penn State 435 to 357 in yardage - a staggering number considering UCLA entered the game 120th in the country in offense. This is a Nittany Lions defense led by arguably the best coordinator in the country, Jim Knowles, who just got schooled by a man making his debut as play-caller.</p><p>If UCLA is going to get this kind of performance from Nico going forward, the Bruins are a threat to anyone left on their schedule. If not, they can still be happy about playing spoiler to a Penn State team that started the season No. 2 and is now 0-2 in Big Ten play.</p><h3>Wilson might save Napier's job</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804237/cropped_GettyImages-2239261809.jpg?ts=1759622110" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804237/w220xh124_GettyImages-2239261809.jpg?ts=1759622110 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804237/w320xh180_GettyImages-2239261809.jpg?ts=1759622110 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804237/w640xh360_GettyImages-2239261809.jpg?ts=1759622110 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804237/w768xh432_GettyImages-2239261809.jpg?ts=1759622110 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804237/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2239261809.jpg?ts=1759622110 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">James Gilbert / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Billy Napier's isn't going to get away with this again, is he? The Florida head coach's firing seemed inevitable last season before the Gators ripped off four straight wins - two against ranked opponents - to close the season and save his job. If he somehow dodges a pink slip this time, it'll likely be due to the performance of freshman receiver Dallas Wilson.</p><p>Wilson arrived on campus with tons of hype but had yet to play this season due to injury. Once he hit the field, the woeful Florida offense's fortunes shifted. Texas was powerless against Wilson, and DJ Lagway looked like a future NFL quarterback again. The nation's 116th-ranked offense was suddenly explosive, with Lagway hitting Wilson for six catches, 111 yards, and two scores. The Gators put up over 450 yards on the nation's second-ranked defense and held a double-digit lead for almost the entire second half.</p><p>Saving Napier's job is still borderline impossible: The Gators face five ranked opponents in their last seven games and need to run the table to have any shot at the playoff. Wilson's emergence offers Napier the slightest glimmer of hope. If nothing else, whoever takes over in Gainesville next season will have plenty of talent to work with on offense.</p><h3>2nd-half Alabama restored order</h3><p>Through the opening 30 minutes of action in Tuscaloosa, it looked as though Vanderbilt might do the unthinkable and take down Alabama for the second season in a row. The game was tied 14-14 and the Commodores were holding their own on the road against the Crimson Tide. But in the second half, Alabama reasserted its place above the plucky underdog and among the class of the SEC.</p><p>In the second frame, the Crimson Tide outscored the visitors 16-0, outgained them by over 100 yards, held them to 9 yards rushing, and kept the ball for 19 of the 30 minutes. That's just about the perfect script for salting away a home victory. Hopefully you got your Ty Simpson Heisman bet in weeks ago, because there's not much value left on the budding star passer for the Tide. With 340 more yards and two touchdowns, Simpson has topped the 1,400-yard mark this season with 13 scoring passes against one interception.</p><p>Last October's Vanderbilt upset was one of the most electric scenes of the year, but its main catalyst struggled to replicate the result on the road. Although Diego Pavia made plays early, two interceptions and a fumble doomed any chance the Commodores had.</p><p>This Tide win is the latest in a ridiculous stretch featuring six ranked opponents in seven games. If Simpson can keep dissecting defenses like he's done the past two weeks, they might just run the whole table.</p><h3>Polls were dead wrong</h3><p>The preseason AP poll ranked Texas and Penn State at No. 1 and 2, respectively. Even with one loss each, the most recent AP poll still considered them top-10 teams. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3355749" href="https://thescore.com/news/3355749">We kept both programs outside that threshold</a> earlier this week based solely on their mutual lack of power conference wins - and both teams proved we were right to be skeptical with Saturday's road losses as favorites.</p><p>Penn State's defeat at UCLA is by far the more egregious setback (see above). The Nittany Lions looked like the second-best team on the field the entire game and their passing attack once again failed to unlock explosive plays, with Drew Allar's 19 completions going for just 200 yards. We've heard for years that the Nittany Lions lack legit receiving options for Allar. We'll buy that against teams like Oregon, but given the way UCLA has played this year, the Nittany Lions should have been able to get production from their equipment managers out wide.</p><p>However, Penn State's real issue Saturday was coaching: An interim boss and a first-time play-caller seemed significantly more prepared than James Franklin and Knowles. An early Bruins touchdown and surprise onside kick immediately indicated this wouldn't be the soft matchup many expected. The end result was the first loss by a top-10 team to an 0-4 program in the last 40 years.</p><p>A loss in The Swamp is much more digestible regardless of how Florida looks, but Texas now heads into the Red River Rivalry without a power conference win. It's easy to go after Arch Manning for two more interceptions, but the Gators' defense lived in the Texas backfield all game. Six sacks, eight hurries, and seven tackles for loss ruined any offensive progress for the Longhorns.</p><p>With the 12-team playoff, both teams still control their own destiny if they win out. However, it's almost all power conference competition the rest of the way for Penn State and Texas. If the first six weeks of the season are any indication, that's bad news for both.</p><h3>Facing Belichick cures all offensive woes</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804239/cropped_GettyImages-2238811471.jpg?ts=1759622169" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804239/w220xh124_GettyImages-2238811471.jpg?ts=1759622169 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804239/w320xh180_GettyImages-2238811471.jpg?ts=1759622169 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804239/w640xh360_GettyImages-2238811471.jpg?ts=1759622169 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804239/w768xh432_GettyImages-2238811471.jpg?ts=1759622169 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/804239/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2238811471.jpg?ts=1759622169 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Struggling to score? Can't move the ball or generate explosive plays no matter what? Have no fear, there's a cure for all that ails your offense: a healthy dose of Bill Belichick's North Carolina defense.</p><p>Clemson's offense has been one of the nation's more disappointing units, failing to score 28 points in an entire game yet this season. That continued Saturday as the Tigers went up against arguably the greatest defensive mind in the history of football - just kidding! The Tigers hit the 28-point mark before the end of the first quarter in Chapel Hill, taking a 28-3 advantage after 15 minutes. The 28-3 scoreline might bring up fond memories from Belichick's NFL days, but Tom Brady ain't walking through that door - which might be the main reason the legendary coach has looked anything but since the quarterback left New England.</p><p>By halftime, Clemson piled up 367 yards of total offense and 14 first downs while averaging 10.2 yards per play and 14.8 yards per completion. Nobody summed up the Belichick experience thus far better than this student on the broadcast.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">ESPN shares an interview with a UNC student going into commercial, with Clemson leading 28-3.<br><br>"TCU was... I went to that game. And that was, that was one of the saddest feelings I've had in University so far. I've failed midterms before, so that's saying something." 🏈💀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/RekRjA0cAx">pic.twitter.com/RekRjA0cAx</a></p>— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) <a href="https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1974526243442933937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>North Carolina is arguably the worst power conference team, which is astonishing given the fanfare surrounding Belichick's hire. According to <a href="https://x.com/JoshDubowAP/status/1974562110110888159">Josh Dubow of the Associated Press</a>, Belichick's Tar Heels have been outscored by other power conference teams by 29 points per game - the second-worst margin among that cohort.</p><p>The Tigers and Tar Heels were both coming off bye weeks, an opportunity to turn things around after rough starts to the season. You'll never guess which head coach made headlines when he was spotted in Nantucket during that time and which one said he spent the week "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MsVkL_A4HU">self-scouting and evaluating everything</a>."</p><h3>46 straight completions?!</h3><p>This column doesn't usually touch on FCS football, but completing 46 straight passes in a single game deserves a mention. That's exactly what Western Carolina's Taron Dickens did in a 23-21 victory over Wofford on Saturday. That set the new NCAA record for most consecutive completions in a game - and likely the most at any level of football ever. Dickens finished 53-for-56 for 378 yards and three touchdowns. That stat line raises an obvious question: How did the offense only score 23 points?</p>

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CFB Blitz: Week 6 takeaways

Conference play is heating up across the country as the calendar flips to October, and Week 6 is ...

<p>Conference play is heating up across the country as the calendar flips to October, and Week 6 is already upon us.</p><p>With the AP poll dropping weekly, voters are often beholden to how they ranked teams in the preseason for the first month of the schedule. We are under no such restrictions, free to put teams wherever we like based solely on how they have played thus far.</p><p>Without further delay, here's how we see the rankings through the September portion of the 2025 calendar.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>1. Ohio State (4-0)</h3><p>The Buckeyes have played four games and allowed a total of two touchdowns. Julian Sayin looked like a seasoned veteran in his first road start and it appears a new standout running back has emerged in Bo Jackson. The rest of the nation should be afraid - very afraid.</p><h3>2. Oregon (5-0)</h3><p>The Ducks now have the best win of the season - on the road in front of over 100,000 screaming fans in the "White Out" at Penn State. Dante Moore appears to be a full-blown star, and Oregon's on a collision course with Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.</p><h3>3. Miami (4-0)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801200/cropped_GettyImages-2235284418.jpg?ts=1757817237" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801200/w220xh124_GettyImages-2235284418.jpg?ts=1757817237 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801200/w320xh180_GettyImages-2235284418.jpg?ts=1757817237 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801200/w640xh360_GettyImages-2235284418.jpg?ts=1757817237 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801200/w768xh432_GettyImages-2235284418.jpg?ts=1757817237 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801200/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2235284418.jpg?ts=1757817237 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Carmen Mandato / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The season-opening win over Notre Dame looks better by the week for Miami, and the South Florida blowout should age well as the Bulls enter conference play. A major test awaits with the first road trip of the season taking the Hurricanes to Florida State on Saturday for a rivalry game.</p><h3>4. Ole Miss (5-0)</h3><p>The Lane train is rolling after an impressive home win over LSU on Saturday. That pushes the Rebels to 5-0 with three conference victories already on the resume. Trinidad Chambliss looks like a star in the making - something he will need to be for back-to-back road games at Georgia and Oklahoma in a few weeks.</p><h3>5. Texas A&amp;M (4-0)</h3><p>Will Texas A&amp;M be the fifth-best team in the country at the end of season? No, probably not. But that road win at Notre Dame carries a ton of weight as one of the best in the season's first month. The Aggies need to pile up the wins now with four of their last five SEC games on the road.</p><h3>6. Oklahoma (4-0)</h3><p>The uncertainty around John Mateer's injury keeps Oklahoma out of the top five for this set of rankings. However, even without Mateer in the lineup, a dominant defense gives the Sooners a chance against Texas in the Red River Rivalry two weeks from now.</p><h3>7. Alabama (3-1)</h3><p>Rumours of Alabama's demise may have been premature. The Crimson Tide rebounded in style from a season-opening loss at Florida State with back-to-back blowout victories before ending Georgia's 33-game home winning streak last weekend.</p><h3>8. Indiana (5-0)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802164/cropped_GettyImages-2235992011.jpg?ts=1759284406" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802164/w220xh124_GettyImages-2235992011.jpg?ts=1759284406 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802164/w320xh180_GettyImages-2235992011.jpg?ts=1759284406 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802164/w640xh360_GettyImages-2235992011.jpg?ts=1759284406 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802164/w768xh432_GettyImages-2235992011.jpg?ts=1759284406 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802164/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2235992011.jpg?ts=1759284406 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Indiana almost got Iowa'd on Saturday, but Curt Cignetti's outfit is now 2-0 in Big Ten play with a 53-point win over ranked Illinois on the resume. The Hoosiers won't be here long, with a trip to Oregon waiting after their bye week. Win that one and they might just be No. 1.</p><h3>9. Florida State (3-1)</h3><p>Yes, Florida State is behind Alabama despite beating the Tide in Week 1 and holding the same record. However, Alabama just ended the nation's longest home winning streak with an impressive win at Georgia while the Seminoles fell to Virginia. That gives the nod to the Tide, but a home win over Miami this weekend could move Florida State back ahead.</p><h3>10. Georgia (3-1)</h3><p>The three-point loss at home to Alabama actually flattered Georgia, as the Crimson Tide dominated most of that contest. The Bulldogs still have the road win at Tennessee on their resume, enough to keep them in the No. 10 slot.</p><h3>11. LSU (4-1)</h3><p>LSU has a lights-out defense that is strong enough to win the SEC with an offense that remains a question mark weekly. The Clemson and Florida wins didn't prop up the Tigers' resume as we would've expected, but they remain much stronger victories than a number of teams on this list possess.</p><h3>12. Texas Tech (4-0)</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802080/cropped_GettyImages-2235966671.jpg?ts=1759284320" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802080/w220xh124_GettyImages-2235966671.jpg?ts=1759284320 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802080/w320xh180_GettyImages-2235966671.jpg?ts=1759284320 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802080/w640xh360_GettyImages-2235966671.jpg?ts=1759284320 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802080/w768xh432_GettyImages-2235966671.jpg?ts=1759284320 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802080/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2235966671.jpg?ts=1759284320 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Three home wins over teams outside the power conferences don't move the needle much for Texas Tech, but a 24-point victory on the road at Utah sure does. Don't look now, but there's a very real chance the Red Raiders end the season undefeated, with No. 23 BYU and No. 25 Arizona State the only ranked opponents remaining on their schedule.</p><h3>13. Vanderbilt (5-0)</h3><p>Vanderbilt ahead of Texas and Penn State? We have a rule in our rankings: Good losses don't outweigh zero power conference wins. The Longhorns and Nittany Lions have yet to beat a team in a major conference this season. The Commodores have two such wins and are 5-0 on the season with every victory by at least 20 points. All of this could change Saturday at Alabama, but right now, Vanderbilt's resume is worth the No. 13 slot.</p><h3>14. Texas (3-1)</h3><p>Have we reached the point where we feel comfortable about the Texas offense? No. Is the defense good enough on its own to make the playoff? Yes. The Longhorns face their toughest test since Week 1 with Florida this weekend. How Arch Manning and the offense produces will tell us if they are serious SEC contenders.</p><h3>15. Penn State (3-1)</h3><p>Penn State was highly ranked to start the season and will likely be there again at the end of the season. However, right now, it's a 3-1 team with zero wins over power conference opponents and an overtime home loss to Oregon. The Nittany Lions could have easily won that contest over the Ducks, but the loss drops them well back ... for now.</p>

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CFB rankings: September's top 15 teams

theScore provides insights and analysis from the final day of the Ryder Cup. (All times ET).  5:5...

<p><em>theScore provides insights and analysis from the final day of the Ryder Cup. (All times ET).</em></p><p><strong>5:55 p.m. -</strong> And that's a wrap. The final match between Robert MacIntyre and Sam Burns ended in a draw to make the final margin 15-13 in favor of the Europeans. Nobody would have believed that the Europeans would win the Ryder Cup with only one singles victory Sunday, but that's exactly what happened, thanks to a dominant showing in the four team sessions. Next up is Adare Manor in Ireland in two years, an event that McIlroy and Lowry will certainly be circling on their calendars.</p><p><strong>5:40 p.m. -</strong> First, the Cup was retained, and now it's officially been won. Tyrrell Hatton supplied another half point for the visitors to push them to 14.5 total and secure the victory. The final day was certainly more dramatic - and stressful - than the Europeans hoped for, but they prevailed in the end. During the victory press conference in Rome two years ago, McIlroy declared that the Europeans would win again in New York. Turns out, he was right.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p><strong>5:15 p.m. -</strong> It's over! Shane Lowry came to the 18th needing to win the hole and secure a half point for Europe to retain the Cup, and that's exactly what he did. Lowry held the advantage after Henley found the fairway bunker off the tee, but the American hit an incredible shot to 10 feet to the delight of the raucous crowd. However, Lowry answered with a brilliant approach to six feet on the same line as Henley's putt. After the American came up short, Lowry poured his in the middle to set off the celebrations on the side of the 18th. The event marks the first road victory in the Ryder Cup since the Europeans won in 2012.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">SHANE LOWRY COMES UP CLUTCH TO RETAIN THE RYDER CUP! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamEurope?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamEurope</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurTimeOurPlace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OurTimeOurPlace</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q6LKpWr0aQ">pic.twitter.com/Q6LKpWr0aQ</a></p>— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupEurope/status/1972411241345044715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>4:45 p.m. -</strong> Scottie is on the board. After a stunning 0-4-0 start to the week at Bethpage, Scheffler finally grabbed that elusive first point with a 2-up win over McIlroy. Both players were clearly exhausted during the match after playing all five sessions, something that dampened the form in the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 singles match in Ryder Cup history. However, Scheffler showed enough of his all-world ability down the stretch to pull ahead and get the victory.</p><p><strong>4:35 p.m. -</strong> Europe is on the cusp with only a half-point needed in the final six matches to secure the win. Aberg gave the visitors their first win of the day with a 2&amp;1 victory over Cantlay while Fitzpatrick settled for a tie despite once holding a 5-up lead over DeChambeau. That's the good news for Europe. The bad news: The Americans lead in four of the final six matches with the other two currently tied. This is far from over.</p><p><strong>4:23 p.m. -</strong> We've got a Ryder Cup! Thomas pours in a 12-footer on the last to finally take down Fleetwood and win 1-up. Two straight birdies for the Americans on the final hole to deliver crucial wins have the crowd in a frenzy, and for the first time, the outcome is in legitimate question.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">JT FOR COUNTRY <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoUSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoUSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/YHIV8mByZv">pic.twitter.com/YHIV8mByZv</a></p>— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupUSA/status/1972397700956967115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Thomas now improves to a perfect 4-0-0 in singles play at the Ryder Cup.</p><p><strong>4:10 p.m. -</strong> The comeback is on! Young lit the fuse in the first match of the day with an emphatic birdie on the final hole to keep a charging Justin Rose at bay and win 1-up. There's still plenty of work to be done to erase the massive deficit, but there's hope as cheers ring throughout Bethpage.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">CAMERON. YOUNG. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoUSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoUSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/nOwwjdNMiN">pic.twitter.com/nOwwjdNMiN</a></p>— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupUSA/status/1972394313905590324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>3:55 p.m. -</strong> Bryson's charge continues! DeChambeau added another win with a brilliant iron shot to the 15th, electrifying the crowd in the process. That makes three holes in a row for the American to cut the deficit to just one with three to play. It's crucial that the U.S. gets a full point from DeChambeau, so his work is far from done.</p><p><strong>3:40 p.m. -</strong> Bryson is doing his best to keep the crowd involved. DeChambeau looked like a shell of himself for much of the match, while Fitzpatrick raced out to a 5-up lead through seven holes. However, DeChambeau has battled back with two straight wins and is now 2-down with four holes to play. The crowd follows the beefy LIV Golf star wherever he goes, and he's playing to that energy with every putt he holes. Will he get the job done or will he run out of holes?</p><p><strong>3:20 p.m. -</strong> The oldest man in the event continues to be a thorn in the side of the American team. Rose, who was at the center of the most heated moment Saturday, once again found himself firmly in the mix, thanks to an outrageous recovery shot on No. 13. After a lengthy rules discussion that involved American captain Bradley, Rose dropped his ball in a precarious position at the par 5. The veteran wasn't bothered, hitting a ridiculous pitch for an ensuing birdie. He added another at the next hole to narrow Young's 3-up lead to just one.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"THAT'S A GOLF SHOT!" <br><br>Justin Rose, that's incredible 🤯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamEurope?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamEurope</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurTimeOurPlace?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OurTimeOurPlace</a> <a href="https://t.co/Nr4psuIj1v">pic.twitter.com/Nr4psuIj1v</a></p>— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupEurope/status/1972379483765416142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>3:05 p.m. -</strong> Considering how Fleetwood has performed this week, taking him down would require a herculean effort. Thomas seems up to that task, pushing the pedal down with three straight wins to flip the match from a deficit to a 1-up advantage heading to No. 13. Thomas has long been the heartbeat of the American team. Seeing him best Fleetwood in the second match of the day would spark a glimmer of hope for the hosts.</p><p><strong>2:50 p.m. -</strong> McIlroy finally appears to be out of gas after playing four sessions under the immense pressure of match play and incessant heckling by the crowd. Sunday's marquee match versus Scheffler has largely been a pillow fight of sorts, with both players sitting 1-over for the day through 11 holes. McIlroy is 1-down after Scheffler claimed the 11th hole with a bogey.</p><p><strong>2:40 p.m. -</strong> Young is delivering on Captain Bradley's idea to put him out first in Sunday singles in a big way. With a clutch par putt from distance on No. 12, the New York native now has a 3-up edge on Rose. Young's been a breakout star in this Ryder Cup and could see a career bump like Scheffler as a result. Scheffler was the young standout talent on the the dominant U.S. team that won in a romp at Whistling Straits in 2021.</p><p><strong>2:20 p.m. -</strong> If you were simply listening to the NBC broadcast and not watching, you'd think the Americans were leading in the majority of the matches. They are certainly trying to keep the attention of the viewer, but the fact is the hosts are currently only leading in two matches of the 11 on course. A number are tied that could break their way, but the U.S. needs to win 9 of the 11 to complete the comeback. Over two hours into the action, that doesn't seem very likely.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803317/cropped_GettyImages-2237618150.jpg?ts=1759086160" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803317/w220xh124_GettyImages-2237618150.jpg?ts=1759086160 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803317/w320xh180_GettyImages-2237618150.jpg?ts=1759086160 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803317/w640xh360_GettyImages-2237618150.jpg?ts=1759086160 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803317/w768xh432_GettyImages-2237618150.jpg?ts=1759086160 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803317/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2237618150.jpg?ts=1759086160 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Scott Taetsch/PGA of America / PGA of America / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>1:55 p.m. -</strong> Perhaps no Ryder Cup member has flipped the sentiment around himself more than Matt Fitzpatrick. The Englishman entered the event with a dismal 1-7-0 record in his Ryder Cup career but has been one of the top players for Europe this time out. He looks determined to make a closing statement, taking it to DeChambeau early to build an incredible 5-up lead. The largest 18-hole singles win by a European in Ryder Cup history is 5&amp;4, according to <a href="https://x.com/JustinRayGolf/status/1972360526945755409">Justin Ray of Twenty First Group</a>. That might be something to keep an eye on.</p><p><strong>1:30 p.m. -</strong> Insert the "<a href="https://tenor.com/svNC1Ws1mY2.gif">Chris Paul hits a huge three to cut the lead to 42</a>" meme for Justin Thomas at Bethpage. Europe needs just two points to retain the Cup and currently leads in five of the eight matches on course, but Thomas' eagle hole-out from 79 yards at No. 6 at least supplied a moment of happiness for the U.S. fan base.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">JT from 79 yards out 👏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoUSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoUSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/6OuXCb6StP">pic.twitter.com/6OuXCb6StP</a></p>— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyderCupUSA/status/1972352904506880075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2025</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p><strong>1:10 p.m. -</strong> A five-minute stretch summed up the week for the Americans, as the top players on the team once again failed to deliver in the clutch. DeChambeau stiffed his tee shot on the par-3 third to 10 feet, while his opponent Fitzpatrick was in a greenside bunker. The Englishman got up-and-down with a nice bunker shot while DeChambeau promptly three-putted to lose the hole. At roughly the same time, Scheffler duffed a pitch shot that barely traveled 5 feet to go 1-down to McIlroy. That duo entered singles play 1-7 on the week, a throughly disappointing performance that's doomed the U.S. squad.</p><p><strong>12:45 p.m. -</strong> The marquee match of the day is on course with Scottie Scheffler facing Rory McIlroy. It's the first time in Ryder Cup history the top two golfers in the world rankings are facing off in singles. For all his dominance in stroke-play events, Scheffler's an entirely different golfer in the Ryder Cup. He's looking to avoid becoming the first man to go 0-5-0 in the event since the format changed in 1979.</p><p><strong>12:28 p.m. -</strong> The possibility of Bryson DeChambeau driving Bethpage's first green was a hot topic all week, but he's yet to accomplish that feat through the opening two days. While he didn't do so Sunday, he came about as close as possible, launching a 351-yard bomb just a few feet from the putting surface. In what's perhaps the perfect encapsulation of this week's action, DeChambeau scuffled the rest of the hole and lost to a Matt Fitzpatrick birdie despite outdriving him by some 50 yards.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803294/cropped_GettyImages-2237895563.jpg?ts=1759080030" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803294/w220xh124_GettyImages-2237895563.jpg?ts=1759080030 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803294/w320xh180_GettyImages-2237895563.jpg?ts=1759080030 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803294/w640xh360_GettyImages-2237895563.jpg?ts=1759080030 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803294/w768xh432_GettyImages-2237895563.jpg?ts=1759080030 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/803294/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2237895563.jpg?ts=1759080030 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Carl Recine / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>12:15 p.m. - </strong>Cam Young has undeniably been the best American this week and was rewarded with the honor of going off first in singles play. It took him less than 15 minutes to make an impact, pouring in a birdie at the first to grab an early 1-up lead on Justin Rose. There are plenty of questions about captain Keegan Bradley's strategy this week, but leaving Young on the bench for Friday morning foursomes might be the biggest error.</p><p><strong>12:02 p.m. -</strong> Europe inched closer to securing the Ryder Cup before a ball was even struck Sunday. The neck injury that kept Viktor Hovland out of Saturday afternoon's action remains an issue, and the Norwegian was forced to withdraw from his singles match versus Harris English. By rule, that match ends as a tie, giving each team a half-point. That means Europe needs just two points from the remaining 11 matches to retain the trophy.</p>

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Ryder Cup forecaddie: Analysis from Day 3 at Bethpage

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CFB Blitz: Week 5 takeaways

SEATTLE (AP) — Ohio State tied a school record back in April when a whopping 14 players, eight of...

<p>SEATTLE (AP) — Ohio State tied a school record back in April when a whopping 14 players, eight of them on the defensive side, were selected in the NFL draft.</p><p>The losses of key contributors from the national championship-winning team like tackle Tyleik Williams, end JT Tuimoloau and others were expected to hurt the Buckeyes’ vaunted defense, if only a little bit. Same goes for the loss of former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who accepted the same job at Penn State.</p><p>It would have been difficult to gather as much based on the defensive dominance that was on display Saturday as No. 1 Ohio State beat Washington 24-6 on Saturday in the Big Ten opener for both teams.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Buckeyes (4-0) limited the Huskies (3-1) to 234 total yards in front of 72,845 fans at Husky Stadium, Washington’s largest crowd since Sept. 28, 2010, against Nebraska. In the process, Ohio State had its 22-game home winning streak broken, one that dated back to 2021.</p><p>“I think it’s a great reference point to come into a stadium like this,” coach Ryan Day said. “This is a great environment. I thought that the fans on their end were loud and showed up in a big way.”</p><p>Ditto for Ohio State’s Caden Curry, who set career highs with three sacks, five tackles for loss and 11 total tackles. The Buckeyes brought down Washington’s dual-threat quarterback Demond Williams Jr. three other times, and the Huskies converted just one of 11 third-down attempts.</p><p>Curry said Ohio State knew that containing Williams would be a key to victory, and that in turn brought out the best in the defense.</p><p>“You love to see the pressure put on you as a defensive line,” Curry said. “I feel like our defensive line this year’s just a bunch of no-names. We just go out there, we just try to ball, we try to play as hard as we can.”</p><p>The Buckeyes’ offense, meanwhile, slowly but surely grinded down the Huskies’ defense, especially in the second half. Julian Sayin completed 22 of 28 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns, the latter of which was an 18-yard strike to CJ Donaldson to give Ohio State a commanding 24-6 lead.</p><p>With 1:08 left in the first half, Sayin also found Jeremiah Smith for an 18-yard touchdown pass that gave Ohio State a 7-3 lead it would not relinquish. On third-and-11, Sayin avoided a seven-man blitz to locate Smith.</p><p>“Down 3-0, that was a huge play for the offense …” Sayin said. “We really needed that, and I think the whole offense executed that very well.”</p><p>It was the Buckeyes’ defense, though, that truly impressed, just as it has a third of the way through the regular season under first-year defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. Including two field goals by Grady Gross on Saturday, Ohio State’s defense has yielded just 22 points this season, and only two touchdowns.</p><p>For as stellar as the Buckeyes’ defense was in 2024, it continues to demonstrate on a weekly basis why it could be as good — if not better — in 2025.</p><p>“I’m not surprised, but it’s exciting,” Day said. “It’s exciting to see the capability, the potential. And I think if we can all stick together as a team, we’ll have a chance.”</p><p><strong>Savvy Sayin</strong></p><p>Sayin passed his first road test without a turnover. The true sophomore entered the contest as the most accurate quarterback in the country, and demonstrated his success through the air can translate on the road, too.</p><p>Throughout the week leading up to the game, Saying said that Day preached to the team to embrace all aspects of playing in a loud, road environment. Sayin’s play proved he was up to the task.</p><p>“Our mindset was just keep swinging,” Sayin said. “Things aren’t going to go our way the whole time, there’s going to be momentum shifts, so we just got to keep swinging.”</p><p><strong>Troublesome without Tacario</strong></p><p>Though Washington’s defense mostly held up against Ohio State offense that had scored at least 37 points in back-to-back weeks, it had to operate without Tacario Davis. Arguably the Huskies’ top defensive back, Davis sat out their 59-24 win against Washington State in the Apple Cup, and was sidelined Saturday despite practicing Thursday and participating in Friday’s team walk-through, per coach Jedd Fisch.</p><p>“I am optimistic about next week based upon how he progressed this past week,” Fisch said. “The doctors will make that final call.”</p><p><strong>The takeaway</strong></p><p>Ohio State: The Buckeyes were the first team this season to rush for over 100 yards in a game against the Huskies, who entered the contest giving up just 62 yards per game on the ground. Bo Jackson led Ohio State with 80 yards on 17 carries.</p><p>Washington: Freshman receiver Dezmen Roebuck continues to assert himself as a solid No. 2 receiving option for Williams. Roebuck had four catches for 58 yards.</p><p><strong>Up next</strong></p><p>Ohio State: Hosts Minnesota on Oct. 4.</p><p>Washington: At Maryland on Oct. 4.</p><p>___</p><p>Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/ap-newsletters">here</a> (AP News mobile app). AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a></p><p> </p>

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 27: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scores a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Seattle, Washington.

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Ohio State pulls away for comfortable win vs. Washington

theScore provides insights and analysis from Day 1 of the Ryder Cup.  6:15 p.m. - There was no el...

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Ryder Cup forecaddie: Analysis from Day 1 at Bethpage

After what seemed like the world's longest buildup to a golf tournament, the 2025 Ryder Cup is fi...

<p>After what seemed like the world's longest buildup to a golf tournament, the 2025 Ryder Cup is finally upon us at Bethpage Black just outside New York City.</p><p>Luke Donald returns to captain the European team as it looks to retain the cup and become the first visitors to win since 2012. Outside of a swap of the Hojgaard twins, Donald is essentially bringing the same group that won in Rome.</p><p>Keegan Bradley was an inspired - albeit odd - choice to captain the Americans, but after deciding not to play, he's fully thrown himself into leading the home squad.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Here's how the golfers taking part in this year's event rank from 1 to 24, with no surprise who's leading the way.</p><p><strong>24. Rasmus Hojgaard</strong></p><p>In quite a twist, Hojgaard is on the team largely because he <strong><em>didn't play well</em></strong> enough to make the FedEx Cup Playoffs. The Dane missed the postseason by 17 slots on the rankings list, so he headed to Europe and posted two runner-up finishes and a 13th-place result across three August events. That late surge secured an automatic spot for Hojgaard, who steps in for his twin brother Nicolai as the only player change from the 2023 winning European team.</p><p><strong>23. Matt Fitzpatrick</strong></p><p>An absolutely dismal 1-7 record in the Ryder Cup hasn't exactly distinguished Fitzpatrick as a force to be reckoned with in team play. However, starting with an eighth-place showing at the PGA Championship, Fitzpatrick has finished inside the top 10 in eight of his last 13 events. He's heading into Bethpage trending in the right direction.</p><p><strong>22. Sepp Straka</strong></p><p>If Fitzpatrick is trending, Straka is doing the opposite. Since a third-place result at The Memorial in early June, Straka has just one top-15 showing. The Europeans will be hoping he regains his early-season form that saw him win twice before the calendar hit June.</p><p><strong>21. Ben Griffin</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801062/cropped_GettyImages-2235067881.jpg?ts=1757719475" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801062/w220xh124_GettyImages-2235067881.jpg?ts=1757719475 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801062/w320xh180_GettyImages-2235067881.jpg?ts=1757719475 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801062/w640xh360_GettyImages-2235067881.jpg?ts=1757719475 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801062/w768xh432_GettyImages-2235067881.jpg?ts=1757719475 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801062/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2235067881.jpg?ts=1757719475 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The Ryder Cup rookie gets his place after a career season in which he was consistently in contention. Griffin could form quite the pairing with DeChambeau. That duo would be a dream for social media with both players active on multiple channels.</p><p><strong>20. Shane Lowry</strong></p><p>Rory McIlroy's bodyguard returns as arguably the most energetic member of the European team. Lowry's Ryder Cup play didn't exactly dazzle in his previous two appearances, and his most memorable moment in Italy might have been pulling McIlroy into the car as he got in a shouting match with multiple American caddies.</p><p><strong>19. Collin Morikawa</strong></p><p>The Arnold Palmer Invitational is a staple on the PGA TOUR schedule, traditionally marking the start of March. It's also the last time Morikawa had a top-five finish. This season was by far the worst of the two-time major champion's career, raising legitimate questions about whether the U.S. team would even pick him. Maybe his elite iron ability returns and he becomes a star at Bethpage, but we've seen nothing to suggest that's about to happen.</p><p><strong>18. Sam Burns</strong></p><p>Burns is among the best putters in the world and has just the perfect amount of attitude that could infuriate the Europeans. Will he team with his good friend Scottie Scheffler, or will captain Bradley utilize him in a different pairing?</p><p><strong>17. Robert MacIntyre</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797951/cropped_GettyImages-1714936906.jpg?ts=1755533279" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797951/w220xh124_GettyImages-1714936906.jpg?ts=1755533279 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797951/w320xh180_GettyImages-1714936906.jpg?ts=1755533279 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797951/w640xh360_GettyImages-1714936906.jpg?ts=1755533279 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797951/w768xh432_GettyImages-1714936906.jpg?ts=1755533279 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/797951/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1714936906.jpg?ts=1755533279 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Mondadori Portfolio / Mondadori Portfolio / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>MacIntyre was thought to be somewhat of a liability at the last Ryder Cup, but he formed a solid team with Justin Rose to deliver crucial points. He has greatly improved as a golfer since then, scoring wins in Canada and Scotland. MacIntyre's fiery style could make him a target for the raucous New York crowds, something he'll have to monitor throughout.</p><p><strong>16. Harris English</strong></p><p>English was one of the only Americans with a losing record in the 19-9 romp at the 2021 Ryder Cup, but was a lock for this squad thanks to solid play. Although English doesn't have the highest ceiling, he's as steady as they come - that should be a weapon in foursomes play.</p><p><strong>15. Justin Rose</strong></p><p>One of the lasting memories at the 2023 Ryder Cup was Rose pouring in putt after putt to break the Americans. The elder statesman is back, and he's in fine form after winning in Memphis in the playoffs. Rose continues to age like fine wine and is exactly the type of experienced veteran who decides Ryder Cups.</p><p><strong>14. Russell Henley</strong></p><p>Henley's likely the shortest player on the American team - not exactly a great skill set to have at beefy, brawny Bethpage. However, he has the type of game that wears down opponents, as evidenced by his 3-1-0 mark in his U.S. debut at last year's Presidents Cup.</p><p><strong>13. J.J. Spaun</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790631/cropped_GettyImages-2220316438.jpg?ts=1750031718" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790631/w220xh124_GettyImages-2220316438.jpg?ts=1750031718 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790631/w320xh180_GettyImages-2220316438.jpg?ts=1750031718 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790631/w640xh360_GettyImages-2220316438.jpg?ts=1750031718 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790631/w768xh432_GettyImages-2220316438.jpg?ts=1750031718 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/790631/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2220316438.jpg?ts=1750031718 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Andrew Redington / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Spaun's career renaissance has earned him his first appearance for the Americans at this year's Ryder Cup. He's not the longest player, but his ability to beat down flagsticks with his iron play can make him an extremely tough out in match play.</p><p><strong>12. Ludvig Aberg</strong></p><p>Aberg went from Texas Tech to the 2023 Ryder Cup in the span of months, turning in a brilliant performance in Europe's victory. Bethpage suits his tee-to-green game perfectly, and he's poised to team up with Hovland as one of the duos the Europeans can lean on again.</p><p><strong>11. Cameron Young</strong></p><p>New York's finest gets a home game at a place he's highly familiar with. After finally notching that elusive first PGA TOUR win, Young now pairs a steady putter with his elite ball-striking ability. Don't be shocked if he's a breakout star this week.</p><p><strong>10. Justin Thomas</strong></p><p>The main antagonist on the U.S. team is 7-4-2 in Ryder Cup play and no longer has to shepherd a lost Jordan Spieth around the course. Win, lose, or draw, you can be sure Thomas will make noise at Bethpage in some capacity.</p><p><strong>9. Xander Schauffele</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/593307/cropped_GettyImages-1235527790.jpg?ts=1695690200" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/593307/w220xh124_GettyImages-1235527790.jpg?ts=1695690200 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/593307/w320xh180_GettyImages-1235527790.jpg?ts=1695690200 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/593307/w640xh360_GettyImages-1235527790.jpg?ts=1695690200 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/593307/w768xh432_GettyImages-1235527790.jpg?ts=1695690200 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/593307/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1235527790.jpg?ts=1695690200 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Darren Carroll/PGA of America / PGA of America / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Good luck trying to figure out what version of Schauffele you're getting at Bethpage. After winning two majors in 2024, Schauffele never really got going this year following an early rib injury. He failed to qualify for the TOUR Championship and hasn't teed it up in over a month. Maybe the opportunity to play with a teammate will mark the return of cigar-smoking Schauffele.</p><p><strong>8. Viktor Hovland</strong></p><p>The start of the season was bleak, but Hovland hasn't missed a cut since the Players Championship in March. He pulled 3.5 points from five matches in Italy two years ago, and he supplied one of the more memorable moments when he made a brilliant chip-in birdie on the event's first hole. Hovland is almost certain to partner again with Aberg to form a superstar Scandinavian tandem capable of just about anything - ask Scheffler.</p><p><strong>7. Tyrrell Hatton</strong></p><p>Still one of the world's best after his move to LIV, Hatton boasts a very respectable 5-4-2 record over three Ryder Cups. The Englishman won the Dubai Desert Classic in January and finished inside the top 20 in three of the four majors this season. His antics should also draw plenty of reaction from the raucous American crowd.</p><p><strong>6. Patrick Cantlay</strong></p><p>No-hat Pat has arguably been the best American over the past two Ryder Cups. While his 5-2-1 record speaks for itself, his late Saturday finish in Italy to steal a point from McIlroy was the type of stuff that builds legends. Now that we've covered the good, let's address the elephant in the room: Cantlay has kind of stunk the past calendar year. He missed the cut in the last three majors of the season and has five top-10s in 2025.</p><p><strong>5. Bryson DeChambeau</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633145/cropped_GettyImages-2157880510.jpg?ts=1718581135" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633145/w220xh124_GettyImages-2157880510.jpg?ts=1718581135 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633145/w320xh180_GettyImages-2157880510.jpg?ts=1718581135 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633145/w640xh360_GettyImages-2157880510.jpg?ts=1718581135 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633145/w768xh432_GettyImages-2157880510.jpg?ts=1718581135 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/633145/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2157880510.jpg?ts=1718581135 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Andrew Redington / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Yes, DeChambeau is just 2-3-1 in his Ryder Cup career, and his playing style and golf ball choice make him a difficult player to partner with. Still, this version of DeChambeau appears made for a Ryder Cup at Bethpage. His monstrous drives promise to bring the lengthy course to its knees, and his ability to fire up a crowd is second-to-none on the American team. If the U.S. wins, we'll likely point to big, bad Bryson as one of the main reasons.</p><p><strong>4. Jon Rahm</strong></p><p>Rahm has shown time and again he's a man for the moment at the Ryder Cup - best shown with two eagles over his final three holes on Saturday in 2023 to earn a tie in his match. He's never lost a foursomes session in the Ryder Cup and comes to Bethpage after winning the season-long LIV points race. Rahm and fellow LIV teammate Hatton feel like a natural pairing to give the American team fits this week.</p><p><strong>3. Tommy Fleetwood</strong></p><p>Sign me up for a massive week out of Fleetwood for the Europeans. He owns a sparkling 7-3-2 record in the Ryder Cup,<strong><em> and </em></strong>he's coming to Bethpage off his first career PGA TOUR win in the TOUR Championship at East Lake. With his brilliant demeanor and all-world approach game, the Englishman is just about the perfect partner in any team setting.</p><p><strong>2. Rory McIlroy</strong></p><p>McIlroy has been on a pretty good run since telling the media in the winners' press conference at the 2023 Ryder Cup that the Europeans would be victorious at Bethpage, too. The 36-year-old has completed the career grand slam, won a signature event at Pebble Beach, captured the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, and thrilled crowds at the Irish Open with an electric eagle on the 72nd hole en route to claiming the title. McIlroy will need to be at his absolute peak if the Europeans are going to deliver on his bold promise.</p><p><strong>1. Scottie Scheffler</strong></p><p>One of the last times we saw Scheffler in Ryder Cup action, he was getting waxed 9&amp;7 alongside Brooks Koepka by Aberg and Hovland. That also happens to be the last time Scheffler looked like a human playing golf instead of an alien sent to destroy the PGA TOUR competition. The undisputed World No. 1 has won an absurd 16 times since the last edition of the Ryder Cup - more than the career totals of Jordan Spieth, Fred Couples, Adam Scott, or David Duval. This is a different Scheffler than the one at the previous Ryder Cup, and you can expect the U.S. to ride him for all five sessions at Bethpage.</p>

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Ryder Cup breakdown: Ranking all 24 players at Bethpage

"Tiger King" wasn't a documentary on the Clemson football team, but the former Netflix hit and th...

<p>"Tiger King" wasn't a documentary on the Clemson football team, but the former Netflix hit and the Tigers do have something in common: 2020 was the last time they were at the top of their game.</p><p>While Clemson's descent from the national picture has been significantly slower than that of infamous zookeeper Joe Exotic, Saturday's performance against Syracuse served the latest reminder that Dabo Swinney's Tigers are a ways past their peak.</p><p>The most talented Clemson team of the past five years entered the season as the ACC favorite and No. 4 in the preseason AP Poll. It leaves the first month of play with a 1-3 mark for the first time under Swinney.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The season-opening loss to LSU at home stung, but the result was acceptable given the similar talent level. Clemson certainly didn't cover itself in glory in a Week 2 win over Troy either, but it's college football. Win your clunkers and get to next week, right? However, what if the clunker ended up being the norm?</p><p>Georgia Tech didn't seem too bothered by the Tigers last week in Atlanta, as the Yellow Jackets physically bested their opponent in the upset win. That set off alarm bells for just about everyone - except Swinney, of course.</p><p>"All we've done is win," Swinney said last Tuesday during a fiery press conference, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46284559/clemson-coach-dabo-swinney-defends-program-slow-start">ESPN's Andrea Adelson</a>. "We've won this league eight out of the last 10 years. Is that not good? I'm just asking. Is that good? To win your league eight out of 10 years, to go to the playoffs seven out of 10 years, be in four national championships, win it twice. Yeah, we're a little down right now. Take your shots. I've got a long memory. We'll be all right. We'll bounce back."</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801138/cropped_GettyImages-2235252429.jpg?ts=1757795949" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801138/w220xh124_GettyImages-2235252429.jpg?ts=1757795949 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801138/w320xh180_GettyImages-2235252429.jpg?ts=1757795949 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801138/w640xh360_GettyImages-2235252429.jpg?ts=1757795949 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801138/w768xh432_GettyImages-2235252429.jpg?ts=1757795949 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/801138/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2235252429.jpg?ts=1757795949 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>"All we've done is win" is an interesting choice of words, considering Swinney is now 3-6 in his last nine games against power conference competition. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised he played the hits since he likely wishes the college football world could rewind a decade.</p><p>Swinney famously went viral in 2014 for speaking out about players unionizing, stating he would "<a href="https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/acc/clemson-university/article252502683.html">go do something else because there's enough entitlement in this world as it is</a>." He's since clarified that statement, but it's safe to say he wasn't exactly at the forefront of paying players.</p><p>He's also resisted the transfer portal, a tool that the last four national champions have used extensively to supplement their rosters. He relented and added transfers this season, but his prior reluctance is akin to an NFL team skipping free agency and choosing to build through the draft alone.</p><p>Maybe Clemson's struggles aren't so complicated and can simply be explained by its lack of a Heisman-worthy quarterback. The Tigers' national title runs were largely led by future first-round picks Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence.</p><p>From 2016-20, Clemson's average offensive ranking was 11th in the country. That standing has dropped to 58th in the five seasons since Lawrence left, including this year's unit, which sat 110th nationally entering Saturday.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799087/cropped_GettyImages-2184466160.jpg?ts=1756320658" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799087/w220xh124_GettyImages-2184466160.jpg?ts=1756320658 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799087/w320xh180_GettyImages-2184466160.jpg?ts=1756320658 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799087/w640xh360_GettyImages-2184466160.jpg?ts=1756320658 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799087/w768xh432_GettyImages-2184466160.jpg?ts=1756320658 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799087/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2184466160.jpg?ts=1756320658 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Justin Berl / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Cade Klubnik is a fine college quarterback, but it will be a surprise if he eventually plays on Sundays. The Tigers' play-calling suggests that they still believe there's a future pro throwing passes.</p><p>Klubnik had an eye-popping 60 passing attempts versus Syracuse. While the game script may have called for more passing, Clemson was only down 10 points at halftime, hardly in need of a panicked air-it-out offensive approach. Klubnik completed just 22 of his last 41 passes and struggled to keep the offense on the field with a dismal 4-for-18 showing on third and fourth downs.</p><p>Swinney and the Tigers snuck into the playoff last year, thanks to a surprising win in the ACC title game. They promptly lost to Texas by two touchdowns, a second defeat in the final three games of the season.</p><p>That opportunity won't be available this time around with a much-improved ACC led by resurgent Miami and Florida State. It won't matter though, because nothing we saw Saturday suggests this version of Clemson is even a lock to go bowling, let alone make the playoff.</p><p>So where does Clemson go now? Swinney ain't leaving, nor should he. He's the best coach in program history and still delivers double-digit win seasons on the regular. Most of the country would sign up for that production tomorrow.</p><p>However, Dabo has spent years selling us on Clemson being a national powerhouse with a rightful place in the championship conversation. That simply isn't true anymore, and until we see a change on the field, these Tigers are far from the king of the jungle.</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/32516650/related

Tiger King no more: Clemson's elite status is gone

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Mark Fletcher Jr. rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, Marty Brown ru...

<p>MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Mark Fletcher Jr. rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, Marty Brown rushed for a pair of scores and No. 4 Miami struggled at times before beating Florida 26-7 on Saturday night.</p><p>Brown had a 2-yard rush to cap the first drive of the game for Miami (4-0), then had a 1-yard plunge with 4:08 left to seal what became the Hurricanes' ninth win over the Gators in the teams' last 11 meetings.</p><p>Fletcher scored from 1 yard out with 1:57 left.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Jadan Baugh had a 7-yard touchdown run for Florida (1-3), off to its worst start since 1986. The loss sent embattled coach Billy Napier's record with the Gators to 20-22, and came on a night where Florida had its fewest total yards in a game in more than 25 years.</p><p>The Gators were outgained 344-141 and quarterback D.J. Lagway completed 12 of 23 passes for only 61 yards. It was Florida's lowest yardage since managing only 119 against Alabama on Dec. 4, 1999.</p><p>Miami quarterback Carson Beck completed 17 of 30 passes for 160 yards and an interception. Beck improved to 3-0 all-time against Florida; in the last 25 years, only fellow former Georgia quarterbacks Jake Fromm and Aaron Murray also had three wins over the Gators as starters.</p><p>The Hurricanes were fuming after a play early in the third quarter where it appeared Brown — on fourth-and-1 from the Florida 48 — bounced off a pile, kept his legs moving and broke free for what would have been a touchdown and a 19-0 Miami lead with an extra point pending.</p><p>Southeastern Conference referee David Smith said Brown's forward progress was stopped, taking the score off the board, and Miami punted four plays later. The Gators scored on the ensuing drive, and a game where the Hurricanes thought they had gone up by three touchdowns was suddenly a 13-7 contest.</p><p>Beck got picked off on the next Miami drive, but the Hurricanes snuffed out that Florida possession by getting a fourth-down stop on the first play of the fourth quarter and holding on to the six-point lead. Florida never got any closer.</p><p><strong>The takeaway</strong></p><p>Florida: The Gators had 32 yards of offense on their first six drives, before going 80 yards on the third-quarter possession capped by Baugh's touchdown run. That extended Florida's NCAA-record scoring streak, which now is up to 465 games dating back to 1988.</p><p>Miami: Even on an off night for the offense, the Hurricanes' defense showed up yet again. Miami improved to 10-0 at home since the start of last season and has now won seven consecutive games against in-state opponents.</p><p><strong>Up next</strong></p><p>Florida: Host Texas on Oct. 4.</p><p>Miami: Visit Florida State on Oct. 4.</p><p>___</p><p>Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/ap-newsletters">here</a> (AP News mobile app). AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a></p>

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: DJ Lagway #2 of the Florida Gators is sacked by Jakobe Thomas #8 of the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on September 20, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/32495986/related

Miami adds to Florida's misery with dominant defensive showing

College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines ...

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h3>Fortress Indiana is a house of horrors</h3><p>Indiana doesn't fly off the tongue when talking about the toughest places in the country to play, but Curt Cignetti has made Bloomington a fortress in his brief time with the Hoosiers. Insert the iconic "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ6wSei-NJU">Stop, stop, he's already dead</a>" clip from "The Simpsons" here, because that's essentially what Cignetti's team is doing to everyone who steps foot on the field. Indiana has posted an outrageous 594-124 combined scoreline in 12 home games under their current coach's watch. The latest blowout was a 63-10 thrashing of No. 9 Illinois that made history for the emphatic margin of victory.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">No. 19 Indiana's 63-10 win over No. 9 Illinois is the most lopsided win ever by a team outside the top 10 against a top 10 team per <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportradar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sportradar</a>. The previous high was No. 22 Kansas State's 48-0 win over No. 9 Oklahoma State 10/29/2022</p>— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshDubowAP/status/1969601661086941205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>It was as close to perfect on offense as you can get for the Hoosiers, with Fernando Mendoza completing 21 of 23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns. However, the running game was where the discrepancy between the teams was truly evident. Indiana outgained Illinois 312-2 on the ground. That's not a typo: the Illini had a total of two rushing yards.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Some of the faces may have changed for Indiana, but this is still the same wagon that Cignetti fielded last year. The Hoosiers are coming for everyone and won't let up, no matter how you may feel about them. The real test on the schedule is whether they can bring that attitude to the road. Trips to Oregon and Penn State await on the schedule - two venues that rank among the toughest.</p><h3>Florida HAS to make a change</h3><p>Miami asserted its dominance over Florida for the second straight season Saturday and should be considered a real playoff contender. However, this section will primarily focus on the Gators, as there's likely little need to discuss them moving forward this season.</p><p>For the third straight game - and loss - Florida looked absolutely hopeless on offense under Billy Napier's play-calling. The Gators managed just 141 yards for the entire game, with DJ Lagway completing 12 passes for 61 yards through the air. Clearly, the offense isn't working under Napier's watch, and immediate change is needed. The coach already received a vote of confidence for the campaign, but someone in the administration needs to walk into his office and take away the clipboard. Things can't get worse with someone else making the calls.</p><p>Florida's offense is littered with talent all over the field, but you wouldn't know it watching the unit in action. The Gators put up 32 yards of total offense and one first down in the opening half. There's not a defense on the planet that could overcome that level of offensive ineptitude, although Florida's doing its best to try.</p><p>The Gators' 1-3 record is their worst start since 1986, and Napier's departure seems almost inevitable at some point this year. That can be a conversation for another day. As Florida enters the bye, it's clear Napier can no longer be the man calling the offense moving forward.</p><h3>Not even Dabo can spin this Clemson start</h3><p>After dropping to 1-2 following last week's loss at Georgia Tech, Dabo Swinney took to the podium and delivered an impassioned defense of his coaching.</p><p>"All we've done is win," Swinney said Tuesday, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46284559/clemson-coach-dabo-swinney-defends-program-slow-start">Andrea Adelson of ESPN</a>. "We've won this league eight out of the last 10 years. Is that not good? I'm just asking. Is that good? To win your league eight out of 10 years, to go to the playoffs seven out of 10 years, be in four national championships, win it twice. Yeah, we're a little down right now. Take your shots. I've got a long memory. We'll be all right. We'll bounce back."</p><p>Swinney might prefer a short memory, as in one that can immediately erase what he saw Saturday afternoon at home versus Syracuse. The Orange stormed into Death Valley and ran it up on the Tigers, walking off with a 34-21 win to drop Clemson to 1-3 for the first time under Swinney.</p><p>The LSU and Georgia Tech losses came down to a few plays, but there was no question as to which team was the better one Saturday. Prior to leaving due to injury, Steve Angeli lit up the formerly stout Clemson defense for 13 yards per completion as Syracuse scored on its first four drives - another first for the Tigers under Swinney.</p><p>While the defensive struggles were certainly a surprise, the Tigers' offensive issues are unfortunately par for the course. Yes, Cade Klubnik had 365 yards passing, but it took him an outrageous 60 attempts to get there. Clemson's offense was a laughable 3-for-13 on third down and 1-for-5 on fourth down. That inability to keep the offense on the field essentially decided the game's outcome.</p><h3>Michigan-Nebraska was extremely on brand</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802108/cropped_GettyImages-2235984531.jpg?ts=1758412042" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802108/w220xh124_GettyImages-2235984531.jpg?ts=1758412042 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802108/w320xh180_GettyImages-2235984531.jpg?ts=1758412042 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802108/w640xh360_GettyImages-2235984531.jpg?ts=1758412042 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802108/w768xh432_GettyImages-2235984531.jpg?ts=1758412042 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802108/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2235984531.jpg?ts=1758412042 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Trying to predict what a group of 18- to 22-year-olds will do under the immense pressure of college football is borderline impossible on a week-to-week basis. Unless, of course, it's Michigan playing under an interim coach or Nebraska facing off against a ranked team. Then, there's no point in watching the game because history tells us exactly how it'll turn out. That held true again Saturday, as the Wolverines improved to a perfect 8-0 under an interim coach, while the Cornhuskers dropped a <strong><em>28th straight contest</em></strong> to a ranked opponent.</p><p>The story Saturday came down to line play, with Michigan operating in a different stratosphere. The Wolverines bowled over an overmatched Nebraska defensive line for an absurd 286 yards rushing, averaging 9.1 per carry outside of sack yardage. On the other side, Michigan's defensive front was equally dominant, sacking Dylan Raiola seven times and holding the Cornhuskers under 50 yards rushing.</p><p>Raiola posted an impressive 308 yards and three touchdowns, but a classic Big Ten contest will almost always come down to the trenches. That's where Michigan excels, whether it be Biff Poggi as the head coach or Sherrone Moore. Poggi ends his tenure 2-0 as the frontman, with Moore allowed to return next week. Regardless of who's coaching, the Wolverines' brilliance on both the offensive and defensive lines should make them a serious threat in the Big Ten.</p><p>As for Nebraska, the scoreline likely flattered the Cornhuskers, who trailed by 10 before a late score cut it to three. While the continued development of Raiola is encouraging, that defensive line will likely hold the team back from making any serious strides in the Big Ten this year.</p><h3>Beware Oklahoma's defense</h3><p>Jackson Arnold might as well still be at Oklahoma for the amount of time he spent with his former teammates Saturday. The Sooners celebrated their former quarterback's return to Norman with a sack party, taking him down a team record 10 times in an outrageous defensive performance versus Auburn. Jayden Jackson led the way with 2.5 sacks, while pass-rush specialist Mason Thomas got two of his own despite only playing the second half. His second sack was the record setter for the Sooners, as he dropped Arnold in the end zone for a clinching safety.</p><p>Oklahoma has now faced two high-quality opponents this season in Michigan and Auburn and emerged victorious in both. John Mateer has rightly received plenty of attention for his brilliant quarterback play, but it's the defense that sets the tone for the Sooners. Brent Venables promised that side of the ball would dominate when he took over as Oklahoma head coach, and that's certainly the case thus far in 2025. Those sack numbers are sure to grow in a major way after next week's bye with Kent State on deck. The Golden Flashes entered Saturday having allowed the ninth-most sacks in the nation this season.</p><h3>Different games for famous last names</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802141/cropped_GettyImages-2236497244.jpg?ts=1758422548" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802141/w220xh124_GettyImages-2236497244.jpg?ts=1758422548 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802141/w320xh180_GettyImages-2236497244.jpg?ts=1758422548 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802141/w640xh360_GettyImages-2236497244.jpg?ts=1758422548 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802141/w768xh432_GettyImages-2236497244.jpg?ts=1758422548 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802141/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2236497244.jpg?ts=1758422548 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>The two current most famous last names in college football, Manning and Belichick, delivered very different results Saturday. Arch Manning finally showed why he received more preseason Heisman bets than any other player in the country, lighting up Sam Houston State with his best showing of the season. Manning finished with 320 yards of total offense, throwing three touchdowns and adding two rushing scores before sitting out most of the second half. Yes, the competition was nowhere near an elite level, but we'll take any sign of progress with Manning at this point.</p><p>Bill Belichick again walked off a college field on the losing end after North Carolina got steamrolled by UCF 34-9. The Tar Heels looked noncompetitive for most of the contest - the second time that's happened this season against power conference competition. Belichick's counterpart on the other sideline, Scott Frost, has now won 16 straight games with UCF dating back to his perfect 13-0 season in 2017. So, you tell me who's the greatest coach of all time.</p><h3>Complete Texas Tech is Big 12's best</h3><p>If you've watched college football over the past 25 years, then you'd likely describe Texas Tech as a program with an explosive passing attack paired with a defense that has struggled to keep pace. Well, times have changed in Lubbock, and the Red Raiders are now one of the most complete teams in the country. After an extremely comfortable schedule to begin the season, Texas Tech aced its first big test with a stunning 34-10 road victory at Utah.</p><p>The first thing of note was the defense's dominance. A unit that ranked 123rd in the nation last year has suddenly morphed into the 2001 Baltimore Ravens with timely additions from the transfer portal. The Red Raiders forced a whopping four turnovers, including two interceptions by Devon Dampier, and held Utah to 3.8 yards per play on offense after the Utes had averaged 7 yards per play across their previous games.</p><p>A refreshing change for Texas Tech on offense was some incredible balance in the attack. The Red Raiders rushed for 173 yards while throwing for 311. Will Hammond tossed 169 of those air yards after stepping in for the injured Behren Morton. Hammond was nearly flawless in relief, missing just three passes and fitting numerous throws into extremely tight windows in a tough road environment.</p><p>Defense, balance on offense, and great depth at quarterback? Saturday's performance should put Texas Tech firmly at the top of Big 12 title favorites and in the driver's seat for the playoff.</p><h3>Maryland has a dude at QB</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802077/cropped_GettyImages-2235957162.jpg?ts=1758404608" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802077/w220xh124_GettyImages-2235957162.jpg?ts=1758404608 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802077/w320xh180_GettyImages-2235957162.jpg?ts=1758404608 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802077/w640xh360_GettyImages-2235957162.jpg?ts=1758404608 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802077/w768xh432_GettyImages-2235957162.jpg?ts=1758404608 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/802077/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2235957162.jpg?ts=1758404608 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Forget the Bryce Underwood love, the Big Ten just might be Malik Washington's playground. Underwood isn't the only true freshman quarterback to start immediately, as Washington continued his brilliant play for Maryland Saturday at Wisconsin. The nation's third-ranked dual-threat passer in the 2025 class again topped the 250-yard passing mark, making him the second true freshman quarterback in the last 20 years to hit that total in each of his first four games of the season.</p><h3>Another Fickell flop at Wisconsin</h3><p>You had to dig pretty deep to find someone criticizing Wisconsin's hire of Luke Fickell. After all, he had just guided Cincinnati to the playoffs, making them the first Group of 5 program to reach the postseason. If Fickell could do it with the Bearcats, he could certainly repeat that with the Badgers, right? Turns out, the answer is a resounding no. The latest debacle in Fickell's tumultuous tenure with Wisconsin came Saturday in a home blowout at the hands of Maryland.</p><p>Perhaps most damning to Fickell's time in Madison is the loss of the Badgers' long-standing identity. Wisconsin used to send offensive linemen and running backs to the NFL on an annual basis. Now, they struggle to get back to the line of scrimmage on any running play. Even taking away Maryland's six sacks, the Badgers barely topped 3 yards per carry Saturday. Say what you want about quarterback injuries, and there's plenty, but it's borderline unfathomable that a Wisconsin team can't run the ball on a program like Maryland.</p><p>Fickell was exceptional at identifying coordinators while at Cincinnati, bringing in future Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman and Irish offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock to his staff. That hasn't translated at Wisconsin, and the program is somehow going backward under his watch. The question is whether Fickell gets the chance to turn things around. His buyout is steep at $25 million, but Saturday's showing might have the state of Wisconsin checking for spare change in the mattress to make that happen.</p><h3>McAlister cooks SMU in Iron Skillet</h3><p>You can forgive SMU for not focusing the entire defensive game plan on Eric McAlister. The TCU receiver entered Saturday's contest with five catches on the season for 66 total yards - nothing to sneer at, but not exactly "stop this man at all costs" production. It's safe to say that future Horned Frogs opponents might need to adopt that approach. McAlister absolutely torched the Mustangs for an outrageous 254 yards on eight catches with three touchdowns.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">TO. THE. 🏠. <a href="https://t.co/KBiCtuLX9i">pic.twitter.com/KBiCtuLX9i</a></p>— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/TCUFootball/status/1969479537420337354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Unfortunately, SMU may have to wait a lengthy period to exact revenge, with Saturday marking the last scheduled meeting in the Iron Skillet rivalry.</p>

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CFB Blitz: Takeaways from Week 4

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/32399929/related

CFB Blitz: Week 3 takeaways

<p><em>College Football Blitz recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.</em></p><h3>Don't talk about Oregon's NIL budget</h3><p>A word of advice to Oregon's future opponents: Do not, under any circumstances, talk about the Ducks' NIL budget. Mike Gundy learned that the hard way Saturday after <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3336809" href="https://thescore.com/news/3336809">suggesting</a> earlier in the week that the defending Big Ten champs have spent nearly $40 million on their roster. Clearly Dan Lanning took it personally on a Michael Jordan-level of disgust, as Oregon laid a beatdown for the ages on Gundy and Oklahoma State in response - and celebrated accordingly.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Playing over the Autzen Stadium sound system: Moneytalks by AC/DC.</p>— Tyson Alger (@tysonalger) <a href="https://twitter.com/tysonalger/status/1964467237043241405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2025</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Ducks set the tone with two touchdowns on the first three plays from scrimmage, and by the time the dust cleared, the scoreboard read 69-3. The result marked the worst loss for the Cowboys since 1907, and it might have Oklahoma State's athletic director preparing a fresh job posting for the head coaching position.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Oregon was relentless throughout, a team on a mission on both sides of the ball. The offensive efficiency was a sight to behold, with the Ducks' first punt of the season not coming until the 10-minute mark of the fourth quarter. Dante Moore has taken over at quarterback without issue and has already stated that any national title conversation should involve Oregon.</p><p>There are two more contests to play first, but it's impossible not to circle the Week 5 matchup at Penn State as arguably the most anticipated on the calendar.</p><h3>Wake Billy up when September ends</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800289/cropped_GettyImages-2234068772.jpg?ts=1757204937" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800289/w220xh124_GettyImages-2234068772.jpg?ts=1757204937 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800289/w320xh180_GettyImages-2234068772.jpg?ts=1757204937 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800289/w640xh360_GettyImages-2234068772.jpg?ts=1757204937 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800289/w768xh432_GettyImages-2234068772.jpg?ts=1757204937 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800289/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2234068772.jpg?ts=1757204937 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">James Gilbert / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>There's no coach in the country happier to see Oct. 1 on the calendar than Billy Napier. The Florida frontman's teams once again blew a tire during the first month of the season on Saturday, falling at home to South Florida as 17-point favorites. The loss dropped Napier to an astonishing 5-7 overall against FBS competition before October begins and puts his job security in Gainesville on shaky ground moving forward.</p><p>There's plenty of blame to go around for the Gators' latest loss, including a personal foul for spitting to kick-start the Bulls' eventual winning drive. Still, this one largely falls on Napier. The Gators held a one-point lead with under three minutes to play, but they opted to throw the ball twice instead of running the clock out. Both passes fell incomplete, leading to a 27-second three-and-out series that gifted the ball back to South Florida for the winning drive.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Florida's win probability was above 80 percent when Gators got the ball back with less than three minutes to play. <a href="https://t.co/Byfg4fj0JN">https://t.co/Byfg4fj0JN</a> <a href="https://t.co/gMOW28iz2L">pic.twitter.com/gMOW28iz2L</a></p>— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisVannini/status/1964480693347766579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>It's likely a make-or-break year for Napier in Florida, as the fourth-year coach has largely underwhelmed. However, his relationship with highly touted quarterback DJ Lagway was what many pointed to as a reason to hold onto hope. Even that might not be enough to see Napier make it through the month with road games at LSU and Miami before the calendar hits October.</p><h3>South Florida holds nation's top resume</h3><p>Miami knocked off Notre Dame, and Florida State stunned Alabama before piling up 77 points on FCS competition in Week 2, but the top resume in both the state of Florida and the entire country belongs to South Florida. The Bulls opened with a blowout of Boise State, running up a 34-7 scoreline on last year's CFP participant. The encore was even better with the program's first win ever over the Gators. South Florida entered the season without a ranked win since 2016, and it now has two in the span of 10 days.</p><p>Saturday's victory is the latest feather in the cap for coach Alex Golesh, the former Tennessee offensive coordinator who's turned the team around in short order. It's only Week 2, but the Bulls have to be thinking postseason run with the 12-team playoff. Although Golesh's offensive background and star quarterback Byrum Brown usually get the headlines, the defense has allowed just 23 points to start the campaign. South Florida won't have to wait long for the chance to take down another ranked squad, with No. 5 Miami on the slate next week.</p><h3>Mississippi State got more cowbell</h3><p>The Mississippi State fans wanted more cowbell, and, my god, did Blake Shapen ever give it to them. The Bulldogs quarterback connected with Brenen Thompson on an electric 58-yard touchdown pass in the final minute to send Davis Wade Stadium into a frenzy with cowbells ringing throughout the entire state. A quick defensive stop later, and the uprights were down with the party fully on in Starkville. And with good reason, as the victory marked Mississippi State's first home non-conference ranked win since 1991.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">BRENEN THOMPSON FROM DEEP <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HailState?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HailState</a> || 📺: ESPN2 <a href="https://t.co/fiZ9TLW2qe">pic.twitter.com/fiZ9TLW2qe</a></p>— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/HailStateFB/status/1964525322185195594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The game was a tale of two halves. The Bulldogs raced out to a 17-0 lead, only to see Kenny Dillingham's Sun Devils turn to a power running attack after the break. Arizona State dominated the second half and faced a goal-to-go at the 1-yard line late. However, Mississippi State's defense rose to the occasion, forcing a field goal and setting the stage for Shapen's late heroics.</p><p>With Alcorn State and Northern Illinois next on the slate, the Bulldogs should be 4-0 when Tennessee comes to Stark Vegas at the end of September.</p><p>The lack of passing attack should be particularly concerning for Arizona State, with standout quarterback Sam Leavitt finishing with just 82 yards through the air and two picks. That output won't be good enough to get the Sun Devils back to the CFP for a second straight year.</p><h3>Heisman Mateer wasn't an overreaction</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800306/cropped_GettyImages-2234080327.jpg?ts=1757212997" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800306/w220xh124_GettyImages-2234080327.jpg?ts=1757212997 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800306/w320xh180_GettyImages-2234080327.jpg?ts=1757212997 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800306/w640xh360_GettyImages-2234080327.jpg?ts=1757212997 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800306/w768xh432_GettyImages-2234080327.jpg?ts=1757212997 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800306/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2234080327.jpg?ts=1757212997 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>We highlighted John Mateer as a Heisman Trophy contender in our Week 1 overreactions just seven days ago after he broke the record for most passing yards in a Sooners debut. It turns out that might have actually been a very rational take. The Washington State transfer had something special planned for Week 2, running it up on the mighty Michigan defense to deliver a much-needed big-game victory for coach Brent Venables.</p><p>While Mateer's arm strength was on full display with three completions of 30-plus yards, it was his running ability that time and again exposed the Wolverines. The 21-year-old moves like a bigger Johnny Manziel, but with the power of a running back to finish his runs.</p><p>Mateer's now over the 300-yard mark in both his games with Oklahoma, and he appears capable of repeating his gaudy Washington State numbers with coordinator Ben Arbuckle by his side. That should make the Sooners a serious SEC threat with Venables' lockdown defense in full flight in Norman.</p><h3>Alabama cleanses itself with 73-point barrage</h3><p>It doesn't take the stink off the Florida State performance, but it was nice to see Alabama respond to last week's debacle with a strong showing Saturday. The Crimson Tide absolutely throttled Louisiana-Monroe - a lesser opponent, but not one without the ability to beat the Crimson Tide; just ask Nick Saban. The final score of 73-0 was just the type of offensive output that should cool the temperature ever-so slightly in Tuscaloosa.</p><p>Ty Simpson's going to enjoy the film review of Saturday's game, because the quarterback was perfect with a 17-for-17 stat line. He finished with three touchdown passes as the Tide outgained their opponent 583-148 in total yardage.</p><p>The test grows slightly with Wisconsin on deck next week, followed by a bye before a clash with Georgia to end September.</p><h3>Arch rebounds in style ... sort of</h3><p>So, is Arch good again?</p><p>If you're a card-carrying member of the Manning fan club, Saturday was a great day for you. Arch rebounded from his Week 1 struggles at Ohio State with four touchdown passes and an electrifying scoring run against San Jose State. A glimpse at the box score suggests all is good again for the Texas quarterback.</p><p>Manning's dual-threat talents were on full display at times. An 83-yard touchdown pass popped off the screen early, and his weaving, 20-yard rushing score cemented the Longhorns' big lead late in the third quarter. Those moments reminded us why Manning was so highly touted entering the season and not solely because of his last name.</p><p>However, if you were one of those declaring the first-time starter a bust after the loss at Ohio State, there's still plenty of fuel left in that tank despite the blowout win. Manning missed multiple throws, and a poor decision just before halftime led to an interception in the red zone. Take away the 83-yard touchdown - a play that included about 60 yards after the catch - and Manning completed 18 of 29 passes for 212 yards. Respectable numbers but not exactly a line that lights the world on fire. After all, this is someone who was featured in three separate national commercials during last week's opener. It's okay to have high expectations.</p><p>The Longhorns are clearly making it a point to build Manning's comfort, as the redshirt sophomore continued throwing in the 4th quarter with a 38-7 lead.</p><p>Saturday was definitely a marked improvement from last week and a step in the right direction for Manning and the Texas offense. However, it might still be a little early to cash those Heisman tickets - at least until next week when we'll probably debate this again.</p><h3>Playoff Illinois might be a thing</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800274/cropped_GettyImages-2234046618.jpg?ts=1757198747" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800274/w220xh124_GettyImages-2234046618.jpg?ts=1757198747 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800274/w320xh180_GettyImages-2234046618.jpg?ts=1757198747 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800274/w640xh360_GettyImages-2234046618.jpg?ts=1757198747 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800274/w768xh432_GettyImages-2234046618.jpg?ts=1757198747 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800274/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2234046618.jpg?ts=1757198747 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Alex Halloway / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Memo to the College Football Playoff committee: It's time to get familiar with Illinois, especially if its opponents are going to lend a helping hand like Duke did Saturday. The Illini damn near crashed the party last year and showed in Week 2 that they don't plan on missing out again in 2025. Illinois used a 31-6 run in the second half to blow past the Blue Devils on the road with a 45-19 final score.</p><p>The defense forced - and recovered - a whopping four fumbles by Duke and intercepted star quarterback Darian Mensah in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Illinois offense clearly has identified a new No. 1 wideout in Hank Beatty, as the transfer piled up 138 receiving yards on eight catches in the win.</p><p>Perhaps the biggest reason we're on the Illini for the playoff is their schedule. It's tough to find a more manageable slate in the Big Ten this season. Ohio State visits Champaign in October, and the Illini avoid playing Oregon, Penn State, and Michigan during the regular season.</p><h3>Beau knows winning </h3><p>New Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula had a surprising admission before this week's Border War rivalry against Kansas.</p><p>"I had no idea about the whole Civil War history," the Penn State transfer said, <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46157908/college-football-week-2-preview-connelly-michigan-oklahoma-kansas-missour-iowa">according to Bill Connelly of ESPN</a>. "I thought it was just a sports rivalry, but I guess it goes beyond that. So I thought that was pretty cool."</p><p>OK, so Pribula may not know a ton about history. However, he showed Saturday that he knows plenty when it comes to winning football games. Pribula made his name at Penn State as a running threat, but he beat Kansas time and again with his arm in a thrilling comeback at home. Pribula finished with a whopping 334 yards passing and three touchdowns while also converting four of his five attempts on fourth down. That's exactly the type of performance Eli Drinkwitz was hoping for when he grabbed Pribula from the portal.</p><h3>Iowa QB curse continues</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800303/cropped_GettyImages-2233406611.jpg?ts=1757212690" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800303/w220xh124_GettyImages-2233406611.jpg?ts=1757212690 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800303/w320xh180_GettyImages-2233406611.jpg?ts=1757212690 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800303/w640xh360_GettyImages-2233406611.jpg?ts=1757212690 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800303/w768xh432_GettyImages-2233406611.jpg?ts=1757212690 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/800303/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2233406611.jpg?ts=1757212690 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">David Purdy / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>One of the trademarks of a Kirk Ferentz-coached Iowa team is its ability to shut down the quarterback. Unfortunately, that's both a positive and a negative, as it includes the opposition's signal-caller and whoever's throwing passes for the Hawkeyes. For what feels like the 25th straight season, Iowa is again entering games firing blanks from the quarterback position. While we've grown accustomed to that, this season was supposed to be different with the high-profile transfer of Mark Gronowski. The FCS star claimed the Walter Payton Trophy (that division's version of the Heisman) and was a two-time national champion at South Dakota State. It's safe to say that the learning curve has been a bit steep for Gronowski in the transition to the next level.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski has broken the record for fewest passing yards (127) by a Big Ten QB through the first two games of a season (minimum 35 attempts, since 1995). Kain Colter previously held the record with 177 yards through two games in 2012.</p>— Arbitrary Analytics (@arbitanalytics) <a href="https://twitter.com/arbitanalytics/status/1964414523219104085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2025</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The Hawkeyes kept the rivalry game with Iowa State close Saturday - in typical Ferentz fashion - before eventually losing on a last-minute field goal. The defense and running game are likely strong enough to ensure another winning season, but it appears not even peak-Patrick Mahomes could get the pass game cooking in Iowa City.</p><h3>Sawyer Robertson has arrived</h3><p>The most electric game of the early window was undoubtedly Baylor's stunning double-overtime victory at SMU, with the Bears erasing a 14-point deficit in the final six minutes to force the extra session. The win takes a fire extinguisher to Dave Aranda's red-hot seat for now, but the main takeaway might be Sawyer Robertson's continued emergence as one of the best quarterbacks in the country.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Baylor's Sawyer Robertson is 3rd QB since 2000 to have 850+ yards passing, 7+ TD passes and 0 INTs thru 2 games in a season. Also:<br>Nic Shimonek, Texas Tech, 2017<br>Cody Hodges, Texas Tech, 2005</p>— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshDubowAP/status/1964420827807695255?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2025</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Robertson's 440-yard, four-touchdown performance Saturday almost single-handedly flipped the early season narrative in Waco, with 1-1 looking significantly better than 0-2. Thanks to Robertson, the Bears have the offense to compete for a Big 12 title. Unfortunately, they're going to need it. Aranda taking over the defensive play-calling duties hasn't changed the disastrous results that unit produced last year.</p>

https://rich-content.thescore.com/content_cards/32310277/related

CFB Blitz: Takeaways from Week 2's top games

"They don't have Nick Saban to save them."  Oh, did we laugh when Tommy Castellanos dropped that ...

<p>"They don't have Nick Saban to save them."</p><p>Oh, did we laugh when Tommy Castellanos <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3303354" href="https://thescore.com/news/3303354">dropped that quote</a> about Alabama in June. A Boston College transfer on a Florida State team that went 2-10 last year seemed far down the list of candidates in position to poke the bear.</p><p>However, by 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Tallahassee, the joke was on Alabama. Castellanos and the Seminoles had just served the latest reminder that Saint Nick is long gone and ain't nobody scared of Kalen DeBoer's Crimson Tide.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 31-17 blowout - a result that somehow still flattered the visitors - was Alabama's first season-opening loss since 2001. Show some sympathy if you know one of the 30,000-plus undergrads on the Tuscaloosa campus. An 0-1 start hasn't happened in their lifetime.</p><p>Saturday's setback was DeBoer's third loss in four games dating back to last season. Zoom out further and it's his fifth in 14 games since taking over for Saban - with four coming to unranked teams. That's the same number of unranked losses Saban had <em>in his entire Alabama tenure</em>.</p><p>Look, the defeats certainly cause anger, but the manner in which they're unfolding is what's enraging the passionate fan base.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799794/cropped_GettyImages-2232956877.jpg?ts=1756842417" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799794/w220xh124_GettyImages-2232956877.jpg?ts=1756842417 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799794/w320xh180_GettyImages-2232956877.jpg?ts=1756842417 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799794/w640xh360_GettyImages-2232956877.jpg?ts=1756842417 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799794/w768xh432_GettyImages-2232956877.jpg?ts=1756842417 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799794/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2232956877.jpg?ts=1756842417 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Don Juan Moore / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Saban once famously cautioned his team about lacking focus in advance of a 2015 game against FCS Charleston Southern, recalling a 2011 contest in which Alabama allowed Georgia Southern to rack up 302 rushing yards, albeit in a 45-21 victory.</p><p>"They ran through our ass like shit through a tin horn, and we could not stop them," a fiery Saban <a href="https://youtu.be/2bEa5MI3WwQ?si=XzBdppIoA7D2dTnr">proclaimed</a>.</p><p>The tin horn seems to have taken up residence under DeBoer. The once-stout Crimson Tide defense is allowing an average of more than 200 rushing yards per game over the last three losses - the Seminoles' 233-yard performance being the latest.</p><p>Castellanos' 152 passing yards Saturday were the most by an opposing quarterback in those losses, with Oklahoma and Michigan not topping the 100-yard mark.</p><p>Overcoming Alabama used to require a Johnny Manziel freak show. In this era, you simply need to avoid turnovers and run the dang ball.</p><p>So, the defense isn't exactly on fire, but DeBoer made his mark as an offensive genius. Surely that side of the ball is thriving, right?</p><p>That might be the most puzzling part of the whole debacle: Since taking the field at Oklahoma in November, Alabama has averaged just 15 points per game.</p><p>Gone are the days of Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and Bryce Young airing it out to an assortment of future NFL wideouts. Scoreboard operators used to call for backup when Alabama came to town. Now, they're planning bathroom breaks around when the Tide have the football.</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799796/cropped_GettyImages-2232337289.jpg?ts=1756842548" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799796/w220xh124_GettyImages-2232337289.jpg?ts=1756842548 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799796/w320xh180_GettyImages-2232337289.jpg?ts=1756842548 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799796/w640xh360_GettyImages-2232337289.jpg?ts=1756842548 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799796/w768xh432_GettyImages-2232337289.jpg?ts=1756842548 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799796/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2232337289.jpg?ts=1756842548 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Butch Dill / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Two running backs have won the Heisman Trophy in the last 20 years. Both played at Alabama under Saban. These days, you could total the yards of every back on the roster and still fail to get an invite to New York. The Crimson Tide have averaged 75 rushing yards over the last three losses and have failed to register a 100-yard rusher in any loss under DeBoer.</p><p>The recipe to stop Alabama's offense seems simple: Limit the run game and you'll be rewarded with an epic field storm when the clock hits zero.</p><p>The fascinating part begins now. DeBoer has a buyout north of $60 million, and there's no Texas A&amp;M oil money flowing in the state of Alabama. He's going to have some runway to fix things and get the Tide pointed back in the right direction. After all, this is a loaded roster filled with high-end recruits who beat mighty Georgia last year.</p><p>Whether DeBoer can do it or not is arguably the biggest storyline in college football. He's been a smashing success at every prior coaching stop, but the pressure cooker in Tuscaloosa is a different beast than Washington or Fresno State. It's safe to assume nobody in Seattle was calling into radio programs questioning DeBoer's sideline attire with the Huskies.</p><p>Under Saban, the fear factor of Alabama gave the team a de facto 14-0 lead just walking off the bus. That's how the legendary coach once piled up 100 straight wins over unranked opponents.</p><p>Now, Goliath has fallen, the bully's been popped in the mouth, and the pressure is on DeBoer to avoid being the latest example of never wanting to be the guy to replace The Guy.</p>

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Nobody fears Saban-less Alabama

The first full week of the college football season doubles as the only time every team's fan base...

<p><em>The first full week of the college football season doubles as the only time every team's fan base is allowed to feel positive. It's important to remember that it's a long season and we shouldn't read too much into results from the first week - especially with 12 teams making the playoff. Just kidding! Let's completely overreact to what we have witnessed thus far. </em></p><h3>Book LSU's spot in the national title game</h3><p>Three things have been constants for Brian Kelly during his tenure at LSU: losing the season opener, underwhelming defensive performances, and turning bright red on the sideline. His face looks the same, but the defense shone as Kelly finally won the first game of the season with the Tigers. Their victim was Clemson as LSU's impressive road win launched a likely run at the SEC title.</p><p>The 89th-ranked defense from last year was nowhere to be seen, with LSU swarming the Clemson attack throughout the contest. Harold Perkins Jr. once again looked like the star he was in his freshman year. Now a senior, Perkins finished with a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a crucial QB hurry on Clemson's final offensive play of the game to seal the victory.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>LSU's offense was always talented enough to win the SEC, but this defense makes the Tigers a real national championship threat.</p><h3>New year, same Clemson</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799520/cropped_GettyImages-2232365305.jpg?ts=1756611451" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799520/w220xh124_GettyImages-2232365305.jpg?ts=1756611451 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799520/w320xh180_GettyImages-2232365305.jpg?ts=1756611451 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799520/w640xh360_GettyImages-2232365305.jpg?ts=1756611451 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799520/w768xh432_GettyImages-2232365305.jpg?ts=1756611451 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799520/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2232365305.jpg?ts=1756611451 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Gus Stark/LSU / University Images / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>It's a new year but the same story for Clemson when the big, bad SEC stands on the other side of the field. The Tigers were winless against three SEC opponents last year, falling by a combined scoreline of 89-41. Cade Klubnik's final stats in the playoff loss at Texas looked impressive, but he put up most of that production while trailing 31-10. The Clemson quarterback showed yet again Saturday that he - and the offense in general - simply can't get comfortable against SEC defensive units. With absolutely no help from the running game, Klubnik completed just half of his 38 passes and threw one interception.</p><p>Clemson essentially played five strong opponents last year, with a three-point comeback over SMU in the ACC title game its lone win against those five teams. That booked the Tigers an unlikely playoff spot. Let's not fall for the same trick in 2025. The defense is as elite as advertised, but unless their offense drastically improves against top competition, they aren't serious title contenders.</p><h3>Alabama is ordinary without Saban</h3><p>Turns out Thomas Castellanos was right: The Crimson Tide <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3303354" href="https://thescore.com/news/3303354">"don't have Nick Saban to save them."</a> The Florida State quarterback's offseason comments made headlines, and the Seminoles backed them up Saturday as they pounded Alabama at home, running over the visitors for 230 yards on the ground. Kalen DeBoer's Crimson Tide have now lost three of their last four games outright despite being double-digit favorites in each. That's the same number of losses DeBoer suffered in two full seasons with Washington.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Record vs unranked teams as Alabama coach:<br>Nick Saban 124-4<br>Kalen DeBoer 6-4</p>— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshDubowAP/status/1961930181230338062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2025</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>It's the first time Alabama has lost its season opener since 2001 and serves as a stark reminder of why you never want to be the guy who takes a college job after a legend leaves.</p><h3>Powerhouse Florida State is back</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799486/cropped_GettyImages-2232301117.jpg?ts=1756596718" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799486/w220xh124_GettyImages-2232301117.jpg?ts=1756596718 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799486/w320xh180_GettyImages-2232301117.jpg?ts=1756596718 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799486/w640xh360_GettyImages-2232301117.jpg?ts=1756596718 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799486/w768xh432_GettyImages-2232301117.jpg?ts=1756596718 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799486/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2232301117.jpg?ts=1756596718 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Butch Dill / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>Through Week 1, Florida State adding Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator is the hire of the offseason. The former longtime Auburn head coach remains a thorn in Alabama's side. His offense torched the Crimson Tide with the kind of big-play barrage that was severely lacking last year in Tallahassee. After winning just one FBS game last season, Florida State looked competent and dangerous throughout, running wild on the once-vaunted Alabama defense. Castellanos backed up his offseason boasting with 152 yards passing and 78 yards on the ground.</p><p>The last few years have been a roller coaster for Mike Norvell with Florida State, as the coach followed up a 13-1 season with a dismal 2-10 campaign last year. Saturday suggests this version of the Seminoles will touch double-digit wins once again.</p><h3>Arch was a media creation </h3><p>He's a quarterback and his last name is Manning, so he must be exceptional, right? That's what we heard about Arch Manning for three years, but Ohio State apparently wasn't listening. The Buckeyes' defense made Texas fans long for Quinn Ewers, holding Arch to 38 yards passing through the opening three quarters. The final stat line flatters Manning slightly, with Ohio State backing off due to a late 14-0 lead, but those who watched the whole game know what they saw. Steve Sarkisian preached patience afterward, saying this was just <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3334794" href="https://thescore.com/news/3334794">"chapter one"</a> in the book of Manning, but the Longhorns head coach didn't have to write an overreaction column after Week 1. We do. Until further notice, we're walking back any "Manning for Heisman" takes.</p><h3>John Mateer for Heisman</h3><p>Weighed down by poor quarterback play in 2024, Oklahoma raided Washington State for both coordinator Ben Arbuckle and passer John Mateer to fix the issue. All they did in their debut was set a new Sooners record. Mateer torched Illinois State for 392 yards and three touchdowns Saturday to break Baker Mayfield's school mark for a quarterback in their first game. Forget the level of competition - that puts Mateer ahead of elite names like Caleb Williams, Kyler Murray, Mayfield, Sam Bradford, and Jason White, all of whom won the Heisman Trophy at some point. Is it an overreaction to make this call after a win over an FCS opponent? Maybe. But if Mateer shines versus Michigan next week, we'll be the first to say "I told you so."</p><h3>Jackson Arnold is Cam Newton 2.0</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799469/cropped_GettyImages-2232073451.jpg?ts=1756604622" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799469/w220xh124_GettyImages-2232073451.jpg?ts=1756604622 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799469/w320xh180_GettyImages-2232073451.jpg?ts=1756604622 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799469/w640xh360_GettyImages-2232073451.jpg?ts=1756604622 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799469/w768xh432_GettyImages-2232073451.jpg?ts=1756604622 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/799469/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2232073451.jpg?ts=1756604622 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>This isn't even our own overreaction: Arnold's performance in his Auburn debut somehow led the broadcast booth to make a Newton comparison. Is it a bit insane to compare the Oklahoma transfer to the most dominant quarterback in the last 25 years? Absolutely. Was Arnold's 245 yards of total offense with two touchdowns and - most importantly - zero turnovers a massive relief for a fan base that's recently been plagued by quarterback error? Definitely. Arnold will need to show more growth as a passer after putting up just 108 yards through the air, but he flashed the dual-threat ability that will give the Tigers an enormous upgrade at quarterback this year.</p><h3>Penn State's got elite receivers</h3><p>Consider the receiver problem at Penn State officially solved. Sure, Nevada isn't exactly the 1985 Chicago Bears, but the Nittany Lions appear to have cashed in with their transfer portal additions out wide. Trebor Pena and Kyron Hudson combined for 163 yards receiving on 13 catches and one score as Drew Allar threw just four incompletions Saturday. The Nittany Lions' offense with legit threats outside makes them serious title contenders and more than worthy of their No. 2 ranking.</p><p>(Of course, Penn State's top two receivers had seven catches for 172 yards in last year's season-opening win, only to finish with zero catches in the playoff loss to Notre Dame, but let's not get stuck in the past.)</p><h3>Nico was holding Tennessee back</h3><p>Nico Iamaleava provided one of the offseason's biggest stories, likely marking the first time a collegiate player took part in a contract holdout. The quarterback wanted more money, Tennessee said, "Thanks for your service," and the California native went off to UCLA. Early returns suggest the Volunteers will be just fine without him. Joey Aguilar - who came the other way from the Bruins - shone for Tennessee with 247 yards passing and three touchdowns. Iamaleava only topped 247 yards through the air three times last season.</p>

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CFB Blitz: Week 1 overreactions

The venue was different, the stakes were lower, and many of the names had changed, but once again...

<p>The venue was different, the stakes were lower, and many of the names had changed, but once again Saturday it was Ohio State that walked off the field victorious over Texas.</p><p>Although the Week 1 showdown didn't have the same pop as January's national semifinal, the result still gives us plenty to talk about - most notably, Arch Manning's struggles in his first road start.</p><p>Here are three takeaways from the Buckeyes' victory at home.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Arch Madness fizzles</h3><p>Manning headlined the discussion entering the game, and Ohio State's defense wanted no part of showing up on the quarterback's highlight tape. He underwhelmed on his biggest stage to date, throwing for just 38 yards in the opening three quarters. He looked uncomfortable throughout, and it quickly became evident that Steve Sarkisian would be very conservative in his play-calling for the third-year passer. That might have worked against a tiny directional school, but not the defending national champions.</p><p>Manning's interception didn't flatter him either, but this pass on a failed fourth-down conversion in the final quarter shows just how much he was struggling to find his targets.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">STOPPED ON 4TH DOWN AGAIN 🤯<br><br>THE <a href="https://twitter.com/OhioStateFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OHIOSTATEFB</a> DEFENSE IS UNREAL TODAY <a href="https://t.co/2DAgdyzSvQ">pic.twitter.com/2DAgdyzSvQ</a></p>— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX/status/1961865862933282874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2025</a>
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<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Although Manning piled up some yards late and threw an outstanding touchdown pass, his overall performance was highly concerning. The betting markets took note: The preseason Heisman favorite is no longer No. 1 on the board after his odds tumbled throughout the contest.</p><p>There's no question Manning possesses elite talent, and he will likely flourish as the schedule gets easier. However, Saturday should quiet the Heisman chatter and title talk until we see him come through against a top team. Three games against Group of 5 opponents loom before a date with No. 15 Florida on Oct. 4.</p><h3>Patricia was a great hire</h3><p>Jim Knowles, we hardly knew ye.</p><p>Despite the champions' defensive coordinator leaving for Penn State - and a number of top defenders departing for the NFL - the Buckeyes dominated Texas on that side of the ball. Most of the players on the field weren't born the last time Matt Patricia had a college job, but the longtime NFL coach thrived in his first game as coordinator for Ohio State.</p><p>Texas ran 26 plays in the opening half for 79 yards and converted 1 of 7 third-down chances. Patricia's defense held the Longhorns scoreless in that time, making them the first preseason No. 1 to be shut out in the first half of the season opener since 1988. The secondary was particularly effective, with Caleb Downs, Davison Igbinosun, and Lorenzo Styles Jr. combining for 22 tackles and an interception.</p><p>Ohio State replaced eight of 11 starters from last year's top-ranked defense, but it looks like business as usual in Columbus. That'll be important because ...</p><h3>Ohio State's offense needs work</h3><p>Julian Sayin made some nice throws, avoided any turnovers, and walked off the field with a win over the top-ranked team in his first collegiate start. That counts as an excellent showing for the former five-star recruit. However, the Buckeyes' offense is far from the dominant unit we saw last year, especially when it comes to explosive plays from running backs.</p><p>TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins are off to the NFL, with CJ Donaldson and James Peoples forming the backfield duo this year. The pair combined for just 87 yards on 29 carries Saturday. A strong running game is a young quarterback's best friend, but Sayin was handcuffed by the Buckeyes' struggles to move the ball on the ground.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ohio State's 203 yards of offense were their fewest in any win since they had 184 in a 31-13 win vs Wisconsin on 10/10/2009 with Jim Tressel  as coach</p>— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoshDubowAP/status/1961902022636261773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2025</a>
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<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Sayin will need some reps to truly get cooking in the passing game, even with the ridiculous receiving talent at his disposal. Carnell Tate's incredible 40-yard touchdown aside, Sayin had just 86 yards passing on 19 attempts. Jeremiah Smith had two drops in the first quarter versus Texas - more than he had all of last season.</p><p>Sayin showed enough flashes to indicate he has the talent to shine for Ohio State. However, patience will be needed as the entire offense takes some time to get up to speed.</p>

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3 takeaways from Ohio State's win over Texas

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