Week 5 is right here as we gear up for one more weekend stuffed with thrilling matchups.
On Saturday, we’ll see a rematch of final season’s SEC championship recreation as No. 4 Alabama will play host to No. 2 Georgia in its first convention matchup of the season. Although every workforce has one thing totally different to give attention to to achieve a victory, which one will find yourself strolling out of Bryant-Denny Stadium undefeated?
As we strategy the tip of the primary month of the common season, we check out 5 first-year beginning quarterbacks and the way they’ve carried out underneath the highlight, together with 5 early Heisman Trophy contenders.
Our school soccer consultants give perception on gamers and key matchups to find out about going into Week 5.
Bounce to a piece:
SEC Championship rematch | Early Heisman watch | New convention enemy
First yr beginning QBs
What groups have to capitalize on to win
Georgia: If Georgia goes to increase its 42-game successful streak within the common season and its streak of 16 straight victories on the highway, it may have to achieve success on third downs on each side of the ball. On protection, the Bulldogs must get Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe to the bottom. In final yr’s 27-24 loss to Alabama within the SEC championship recreation, Milroe had 71 dashing yards after contact, the second-highest whole of his profession, in keeping with ESPN Analysis. That was the best dashing whole by a quarterback given up by a Kirby Good-coached protection at Georgia, and Alabama’s 128 dashing yards after contact was the second-worst whole of his tenure.
Milroe is working the ball much more underneath new coach Kalen DeBoer. The Bulldogs did not deal with effectively of their 13-12 win at Kentucky on Sept. 14, and so they’ll must do a greater job in opposition to Alabama, particularly on third down. On offense, Georgia has to get quarterback Carson Beck right into a rhythm early and get him assured in throwing the ball to the center of the sphere once more. The Bulldogs have to determine a technique to get the ball to their high playmakers resembling Trevor Etienne, Dillon Bell and Dominic Lovett and benefit from the Tide’s unproven secondary. Georgia did not rating a landing within the first half of two of its three video games thus far — it might’t afford one other gradual begin in opposition to the Tide. Georgia has to transform third downs and produce sustained drives on offense. — Mark Schlabach
Alabama: The Crimson Tide will look to make Georgia play from behind, particularly with what needs to be a raucous evening crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium. That is an Alabama workforce hell bent on proving the Crimson Tide are nonetheless the Crimson Tide even when Nick Saban is now not their coach. Getting forward early, constructing momentum and getting the gang revved up can be the proper recipe for an Alabama workforce already loads motivated. Georgia struggled two weeks in the past on offense, and Alabama would like to put Carson Beck ready the place he has to throw the ball 35 or 40 instances.
On offense, Alabama must discover a technique to make some huge performs, particularly with Georgia anticipated to return a number of of its high defensive linemen who’ve been out due to accidents. Even shorthanded, the Bulldogs have given up solely two performs of 20 yards or longer of their first three video games. That is the place Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and speedy freshman receiver Ryan Williams play a job. Milroe is dynamic at avoiding the push and ripping off huge positive factors working the ball, and he additionally throws the deep ball extraordinarily effectively. Williams already has 4 landing catches and is averaging 28.5 yards per catch. Georgia’s protection is simply too good to pound away at it persistently on lengthy drives, making it all of the extra necessary for Alabama to strike down the sphere on offense. — Chris Low
Early Heisman Trophy watch
Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter:
If Hunter is not on the high of your Heisman checklist proper now, you are not doing it proper.
In Colorado’s win in opposition to Baylor, Hunter grew to become the primary FBS participant up to now 20 seasons with 100 receiving yards and a defensive pressured fumble. Towards Colorado State, he had two receiving touchdowns and an interception — to go together with 100 receiving yards on 13 receptions. To this point, he has 5 receiving touchdowns, a defensive interception and a pressured fumble close to the purpose line that received the sport in additional time in opposition to Baylor.
(It isn’t even October but).
It appears as if each time Hunter steps on the sphere, he accomplishes one thing that hasn’t been accomplished in many years. In Week 3 in opposition to Colorado State, Hunter grew to become the primary FBS participant with two receiving touchdowns, 100 receiving yards and a defensive interception since Kansas State’s Kevin Lockett in 1996 in opposition to Kansas.
If the stats aren’t sufficient to impress Heisman voters, contemplate this: Hunter has performed greater than 100 snaps in each recreation getting into Week 4. He is so good, NFL scouts in all probability do not know whether or not to draft him on offense or protection. — Heather Dinich
Two years in the past, Oklahoma‘s Caleb Williams was the largest prize within the quarterback switch portal and went on to win the Heisman at USC. The identical factor may occur this fall with Ward.
The previous Washington State quarterback, coveted final winter by nearly each deep-pocketed faculty needing a starter, has managed to exceed expectations in his first month on the sphere for the Canes. Ward is finishing 72.4% of his passes (his profession excessive for a season is 66.6%) for 1,429 yards with 14 touchdowns and solely two interceptions. He has a minimum of 304 passing yards and three touchdowns in every of his 4 begins.
Ward additionally brings the swagger that fits the U and has delivered a number of Heisman-esque moments already, together with telling South Florida’s protection the place a goal-line run play would go earlier than a Miami landing.
“He has a novel mix of character,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson mentioned. “He is a really, very enjoyable man to be round, however when it is time to play ball and time to get on any individual’s ass, he would not have a problem doing that. He holds his teammates to a really excessive commonplace.”
Ward has put Miami on a path to its first CFP look. If he retains this up, he has a fantastic likelihood to proceed the development of switch quarterbacks successful the Heisman. — Adam Rittenberg
It is well beyond time that we as Heisman Trophy voters assume exterior the field slightly bit, or higher but, look exterior the facility conferences when selecting probably the most excellent participant in school soccer.
I have never seen a greater participant, a extra dynamic participant or much more entertaining participant at this level than Jeanty. He is a do-it-all participant who’s main the nation in dashing yards per recreation (195.3) and is tied for second in dashing touchdowns this season with 9 in three video games. It definitely should not be a shock to anybody the 5-foot-9, 215-pound junior is shredding opposing defenses. He was second nationally a yr in the past in all-purpose yards per recreation (159.7) and scored 19 touchdowns. Jeanty hasn’t been overly concerned as a receiver this season, however he is a big-time menace as a move catcher out of the backfield. A yr in the past, he had 43 catches for 569 yards.
Jeanty will get one other likelihood on an even bigger stage this weekend because the No. 25 Broncos tackle Washington State at house. He rolled up 197 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-34 loss to Oregon on Sept. 7 in Eugene. Oregon coach Dan Lanning mentioned what defenders attempting to deal with Jeanty have been saying since he was a freshman.
“He would not go down on first contact ever,” Lanning mentioned of Jeanty, who’s averaging 10.5 yards per rush, together with 6.3 yards after contact.
And when Jeanty will get slightly daylight, overlook about it. He already has 4 runs of 60 yards or longer this season, together with three of 70 yards or longer.
Among the best components of Jeanty’s story is that he stayed loyal to Boise State and did not bolt this offseason amid the switch portal frenzy.
“Understanding the legacy I can depart behind and the impression that I can have to alter individuals’s lives is necessary,” he mentioned. — Low
Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart:
There are the apparent caveats right here about early season stats and the way they typically aren’t sustainable, however we must always nonetheless take a second to marvel at how Dart has carried out. He is averaging 13.06 yards per move try, whereas finishing 79.8% of his passes.
To not get too refined with superior analytical modeling, however what this implies is that Ole Miss’ offense has been unstoppable.
Yards per try is a good indicator for Heisman success. Jayden Daniels (11.66, 2023), Kyler Murray (11.57, 2018) and Baker Mayfield (11.45, 2017) all led the nation within the stat throughout their Heisman years and solely Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall has had a greater single-season common than these three in school soccer over the previous decade. It is unfair to match Dart’s pattern dimension to theirs, nevertheless it’s nonetheless value noting he leads the nation in that class. Ole Miss additionally ranks No. 3 in factors per drive (4.23), No. 2 in lowest punt share (7.7%) and is ranked No. 6 within the Related Press Prime 25 ballot.
That is all to say he has performed effectively sufficient to be within the dialog — for now. Dart has benefitted from the second-easiest schedule up to now amongst energy convention groups, in keeping with ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index. If he’s a real contender later within the yr, it will likely be due to what he does from this level ahead. — Kyle Bonagura
SMU TB Brashard Smith:
How about we go method off the board?
When Smith was popping out of highschool, he was a star receiver and return man dedicated to Florida, however Rhett Lashlee — then the offensive coordinator at Miami — lured him to the Hurricanes as an alternative. In his first three seasons with the Canes, Smith had his share of huge performs, however he by no means actually discovered his area of interest. By the tip of 2023, he was on the lookout for a brand new house, and he hoped it is likely to be at SMU, the place Lashlee was now the top coach.
“We did not actually have a necessity, however we remembered how gifted he was,” Lashlee mentioned.
Just a few different former Miami gamers now at SMU lobbied for Smith, too, and so the thought saved bouncing round Lashlee’s thoughts till he occurred to catch a Kansas Metropolis Chiefs recreation on TV final December and seen the impression of tailback Isiah Pacheco.
“He makes a couple of runs, catches a move out of the backfield,” Lashlee mentioned, “and I am like, ‘That appears like Brashard.'”
Lashlee pitched Smith on the thought of coming to SMU as a tailback and it already seems to be like a stroke of genius. In a win over rival TCU final week, Smith had 18 carries for 127 yards and three touchdowns, caught two balls for twenty-four yards and one other TD and returned a kick 39 yards. For the season, he is considered one of solely 5 gamers nationally with a minimum of 570 all-purpose yards and 7 touchdowns.
“He makes individuals miss,” Lashlee mentioned of Smith, “and we’re making groups defend the entire area.” — David Hale
Get to know your new convention enemy
When Texas introduced its transfer to the SEC, Longhorns followers won’t have anticipated to be practically 40-point favorites of their first convention recreation. However No. 1 Texas is rolling alongside whereas Mississippi State is struggling, with first-year head coach Jeff Lebby and the Bulldogs heading to Austin with a 1-3 file, together with a 41-17 loss to Toledo in Starkville, and with a real freshman making his first begin at quarterback after a season-ending harm to Blake Shapen. Texas, in the meantime, is 4-0, and has defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor en path to outscoring its opponents by 168 factors this yr, most by means of the primary 4 video games of a season since 1977, regardless of beginning quarterback Quinn Ewers‘ harm.
The massive-picture view would not look good for Mississippi State’s protection, the SEC’s second worst in yards allowed at 417 per recreation, matching up with a Longhorns offense that averages 511 and has scored 50 factors in 4 straight house video games. The 2 applications have met solely 4 instances in historical past, first in 1921, then not once more for 70 years. Between 1991 and 1999, former Texas A&M coach Jackie Sherrill went 2-1 in opposition to the Longhorns as Bulldogs coach, with the Longhorns shedding the 2 regular-season video games earlier than successful the 1999 Cotton Bowl. Now 25 years later, they’re going through off as convention rivals for the primary time. Lebby, who grew up in Texas and performed at Oklahoma earlier than teaching stops at Baylor and OU, is aware of what he is up in opposition to. However that will not make this any simpler of a problem. — Dave Wilson
Breaking down first-year beginning QBs
Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola: The five-star signee has been all the pieces Nebraska had hoped for and extra by means of 4 begins. Raiola has put up 967 passing yards with a 72% completion charge and eight touchdowns and two interceptions throughout the Huskers’ 3-1 begin. As Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White put it Tuesday, Raiola has been “balling his ass off.”
Raiola continues to point out off spectacular arm expertise and confidence in working a university offense. The Patrick Mahomes comparisons are certain to proceed, too. After struggling in 2023, Nebraska has virtually doubled its passing yards per recreation output (from 135.9 to 261.8) with Raiola behind heart.
Kansas State’s Avery Johnson: Johnson is coming off the primary lack of his stint as beginning QB, a tough 38-9 highway rout at BYU by which he completed with solely 130 passing yards and two interceptions. It was the primary actual setback for a speedy sophomore who has flashed big-time potential.
Johnson leads all Huge 12 QBs in dashing (261 yards) and has produced 881 whole yards with six TDs and three interceptions by means of 4 video games. Okay-State has the No. 15 dashing offense in FBS and Johnson recorded his first profession 100-yard dashing efficiency in a dominant win over Arizona. If Johnson can maintain progressing, this workforce needs to be a Huge 12 title contender.
Tennessee‘s Nico Iamaleava: How dominant have the Vols been on offense? Their redshirt freshman star did not get to play a full recreation till Week 4. Iamaleava has lived as much as all of the hype and led Tennessee as much as No. 5 within the AP ballot after a powerful 25-15 highway win at Oklahoma.
The Vols are scoring 54 factors per recreation with a gifted younger QB, who’s proving he can masterfully command Josh Heupel’s offense. Iamaleava has accounted for 1,009 whole yards of offense and eight TDs whereas averaging 10.1 yards per move try (eleventh in FBS). He makes this workforce a authentic School Soccer Playoff contender.
USC’s Miller Moss: On this period, blue-chip quarterbacks virtually by no means wait till 12 months 4 of their profession to change into QB1. Moss’ resolution to remain in Los Angeles and maintain competing is paying off in an enormous method. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound redshirt junior ranks second within the Huge Ten in passing yards per recreation with 890 yards, 5 touchdowns and one interception by means of three begins for the No. 13 Trojans. Lincoln Riley was happy with Moss’ response to his first main highway check of his profession, a 27-24 last-second loss at Michigan, and felt his QB gave the Trojans an opportunity to win in Ann Arbor.
“A recreation like that, as a quarterback, assessments your persistence and it assessments your resolve,” Riley mentioned this week. “I assumed he was unimaginable regular with a fantastic mindset all the method by means of.”
Utah’s Isaac Wilson: The four-star in-state signee from Nook Canyon Excessive and youthful brother of Denver Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson has been thrust into speedy taking part in time as a real freshman for the No. 10 Utes, whereas veteran starter Cameron Rising offers with a proper hand harm.
Wilson has received two highway begins and handed a tricky check in opposition to Oklahoma State, placing up 207 passing yards, 41 dashing yards, a landing and two interceptions in a 22-19 win that earned him Huge 12 Newcomer of the Week honors. Coach Kyle Whittingham says the employees is able to belief Wilson with the complete playbook and recreation plan going ahead and he has earned the boldness of his teammates. Rising continues to be the starter when wholesome, however Wilson continues to make an enormous impression. — Max Olson
