Player Notes
UCLA defense prepares for challenge from Washington State QB Cam Ward ·
PUBLISHED October 2, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. | UPDATED: October 2, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.UCLA’s defense is ready for its next big challenge this week as the Bruins host quarterback Cam Ward and Washington State at the Rose Bowl.Ward leads the No. 2 ranked passing attack in the nation (405.8 yards per game through four games), which may pose a big issue for a defense that’s struggled to stop the pass.Defensive ...
Looking at Texas QB Quinn Ewers' significant statistical improvement ·
October 2, 2023 11:51 am CTQuinn Ewers is a much better quarterback for the Texas Longhorns this season. The proof is in the stat sheet, despite what might be many onlookers preconceived views of the Longhorns’ starting quarterback.You can hear the complaints, unreasonable at that, from several fans after the first missed downfield throw of every game. Texas faithful might have made up their minds, ...
Jonathon Brooks is No. 3 in rushing yards in all of college football ·
October 2, 2023Texas running back Jonathon Brooks has had an exceptional start to the season. He recorded his third consecutive 100-yard game on Saturday against Kansas, rushing for 218 yards, averaging over 10 yards a carry and two touchdowns.During the 2022 season, Brooks waited patiently behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. He has now emerged as the third-highest rushing yards leader in all ...
Rutgers football notebook: Greg Schiano bites tongue about NCAA, future opponents in QB flux, more ·
Greg Schiano is not ready to comment quite yet, but his frustration with the NCAA is clear.The Rutgers coach has two players standing in what he’s previously called “NCAA purgatory” this season: wide receiver Naseim Brantley, a transfer from Western Illinois who was expected to play a big role, and true freshman defensive back Bo Mascoe have not been able to play through the first five games of the ...
Around the Pac-12: Survival Week ·
--Oregon Ducks are best team in conference
--USC’s defense is embarrassing
-- Deion Sanders era at Colorado ‘just the beginning’
It was the kind of Saturday that, in the past, would have seen the Pac-12 Conference sabotage its hopes of landing a College Football Playoff berth.The Oregon Ducks would have floundered on The Farm… the Washington Huskies would have wilted in the desert… or the USC Trojans’ ...
ODU to stick with Shields at QB this week ·
NORFOLK — Ricky Rahne has decided on a starter at quarterback this week, but the Old Dominion coach will continue to keep his options open.Jack Shields, a sophomore who made his first college start in Saturday’s 41-35 Sun Belt Conference loss at Marshall, will start again this week at Southern Miss, Rahne said.Who will hold the job long-term remains to be seen.“We’re going to continue to evaluate that ...
Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy remains vague on Alan Bowman, QB situation ·
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State’s starting quarterback situation seemingly remains unsolved.At least, that’s the message coach Mike Gundy delivered Monday when asked specifically if veteran Alan Bowman will remain the starter.“We’re working through that this week in practice,” Gundy said at his weekly news conference.Bowman was the lone quarterback to play in the Week 4 loss at Iowa State, getting the ...
Big Ten depth pulling ahead of SEC thanks to West Coast influence: ·
Published Oct. 02, 2023, 5:00 a.m.By Nathan Baird,COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Big Ten West will no longer exist after this season, but the future Big Ten teams out west are showing how they can add national value to the league.No. 2 Michigan, No. 4 Ohio State and No. 6 Penn State give the Big Ten three of the top six teams in the latest AP Top 25 poll. Washington, Oregon and USC are ranked Nos. 7-9, giving ...
NC State football makes a change at QB. Who will lead the Pack’s struggling offense? ·
UPDATED OCTOBER 02, 2023 1:03 PMSophomore MJ Morris will take over at quarterback this weekend, N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren announced Monday.Beginning with Saturday’s game with Marshall, Morris will replace graduate transfer Brennan Armstrong, who has struggled through the first five games.“It was my plan and our (staff’s) plan to redshirt MJ and allow him an opportunity to develop behind Brennan,” ...
How Ole Miss football and Lane Kiffin delivered fans their long-awaited moment vs LSU ·
OXFORD — At bedlam's border, Ole Miss football defensive tackle JJ Pegues celebrated with a youngster, who'd rushed onto the field to slap his hand. In the thick of it, coach Lane Kiffin embraced athletic director Keith Carter ‒ likely more than happy to write the check the SEC will demand as penance for the field storming.Outside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, where the Rebels won a 55-49 instant classic ...
Recent Stories
2025 Draft: Previewing edge prospects
The edge rusher is a premier position in the a modern version of pro football always seeking ways to encourage more passing.
The importance of franchise passers like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, C.J. Stroud, Justin Herbert, and Jalen ...
2025 Draft: ILBs seek relevance, respect
Over the past few draft cycles, there has been a lack of a bonafide, blue-chip prospect at the interior linebacker position. In recent memory, we have heard differing opinions on who is the top linebacker and what is his value in a draft.
The position of inside ...
Bet on future DBs—they can cover
As part of our series on football’s defensive back scene, the Hall of Football consulted our ever-evolving database of ~17,000 active college and high school players to evaluate the position's future, looking at the horizon at least six years down the road—approximately ...
2025 Draft: DBs have a tough act to follow
The 2024 cornerback class was one of the deepest in recent memory, with elite talent at the top of the class and unprecedented depth that followed. While it will be tough for the 2025 class to replicate that amount of talent, there are potential stars at the ...
Heisman Trophy odds: keeping track
The Heisman Trophy picture is constantly changing, and BetOnline.ag tracks those changes to create the best odds at any given time.
It has been about half a year since they first posted odds on who may win the coveted Heisman.
Check the changes and reasons ...
Seeking nuggets in pile of rookie DBs
Whether it be too little talent or too many rule changes favoring wide-open passing attacks, NFL secondaries no longer impact the game as they once did.
Newcomers from the 2024 Draft are not likely to fix the first part of that issue. Only three DBs went in the ...
History of mystery behind decline of RBs
We began this series on running backs with a warning:
“Mama, don’t let your babies grow up to be … running backs. Not anymore. Not unless something changes.”
Apparently, mama listened or already knew. My concern over the demise of this once heralded position ...
Diving into Hall of Football database
Now that we have settled into the Hall of Football (HallofFootball.substack.com), here is our first dive into the massive database that has been at the heart of NFL Draft Scout for more than 25 years.
Led by our player savant, Brian “Hitman” Hitterman, we gather ...
2025 NFL Draft: Running amok?
After coming off of a slim running back class in 2024, the 2025 draft includes more runners than usual as potential first or second-round picks. Optimistically there could be as many as seven good enough to go in the first two rounds. Realistically, there could ...
2025 Draft: Travis Hunter, a twofer?
It’s no secret Travis Hunter is the most dynamic and versatile player in college football. It’s not just that he plays both cornerback and wide receiver but that he plays both positions at a very high level.
Hunter has become a trailblazer in college football ...
2025 Draft: Does James Pearce have Edge as No. 1?
Overview
Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee is regarded as the top edge rusher in the SEC heading into the 2024 season. He is also projected as the top edge rusher for the 2025 draft, with many viewing him as the No. 1 overall pick.
Teams and scouts ...
My backstory to EA's CFB relaunch
In the mid-1980s, I sat down with Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins and his programmers to create the underlying rating system for Madden Football.
That rating system is essentially the same as the one that drives EA’s College Football 25, the latest in ...