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Week 1 is finally here. There’s a lot to know about Thursday’s 21 contests and the games played this weekend. Some notable names will return after dealing with major injuries last season, and several new players will get their first chance to show their mettle on the field. Plus, what have the coaches been saying this offseason?
Utah quarterback Cam Rising is recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him last season, but let’s not forget he led Utah to back-to-back Pac-12 championships. Can he do the same for the Utes in their first year in the Big 12 Conference? And can Alabama freshman cornerback Xavian Brown earn a starting role this season?
Our reporters break down the records that will be broken this season, five new players to watch and other big topics entering Week 1.
Big names returned after recovering from injury
Utah‘S Cam Rising,
Cam Rising was absent last season with a serious knee injury – suffered in the Rose Bowl last season – that knocked the Utes off track before they even had a chance to truly get going. Rising’s return should immediately put the Utes among the top quarterbacks in the nation given how successful he was as the starting quarterback the past two seasons. Remember, both of those seasons ended with trips to Pasadena.
In 2021, he was ranked first among All-Pac-12 quarterbacks when he led the Utes to a conference title. They became champions in 2022 as well, and although Rising was snubbed for All-Conference honors, his stats — 3,034 yards passing, 26 touchdown passes, 8 interceptions — were just as good. With a talented receiving corps, Rising should go out with another productive season as Utah tries to make a name for itself in the Big 12. — Kyle Bonagura
Wiegman’s tenure in College Station has been full of promise, but also disappointment. He set a Texas A&M true freshman record with 338 yards passing in his first start in 2022, throwing four touchdowns Ole Miss before throwing two touchdowns in an upset of No. 6 LSU at the end of a 5-7 season. He started last season by throwing five touchdown passes in the opener against New Mexico.
He played three full games last year and looked the part of the No. 27 overall prospect in the 2022 class, throwing for 909 yards, 8 TDs and 2 interceptions but was sidelined by a foot injury Golden brown color Their season ended with the Aggies finishing 7–6. New coach Mike Elko lured Collin Klein from Klein’s alma mater, Kansas Stateto revive the offense, and his first order of business was to fix an offensive line that was struggling to keep Wegman and his other QBs upright. Wegman said this week that he is finally back to 100 percent and ready to work. “It’s been a long time coming,” he said. “I can’t wait to get out there on Aug. 31.” — Dave Wilson
Although this wasn’t technically his last game ruler In uniform, Riley Leonard’s era in Durham ended unceremoniously with a final fumble and a brutal tackle in a 21-14 loss to Notre Dame last September. He came back from an ankle injury and limped into two more games, but the magic was gone.
Coincidentally, that injury took him from the losing sideline to the winning one, and Leonard transferred to Notre Dame in December. He sat out spring practice, but insists his ankle is fully healed and stronger than ever, which means the Irish have a potential superstar at QB. In 2022, the last season he was fully healthy, Leonard was one of the country’s best dual-threat quarterbacks, throwing 20 touchdowns and running for 13 more. — David Hale
Five new players to watch
Jeremiah Smithwide receiver, Ohio State, The dynamic pass catcher will start with the returners emeka egbuka And Carnell Tate against Akron in Week 1. For all the elite wide receiver talent Ohio State has had lately, chris carter Still holds the program’s freshman records for catches (41), yards (648) and touchdowns (8), set in 1984. Can Smith — who is expected to be relied on heavily by the Buckeyes — reach those marks in 2024?
Jordan SeatonLeft tackle, Colorado, Sitton’s Year 1 transition is an interesting layer within one of college football’s most compelling stories. The five-star tackle is a definite upgrade on a Colorado offensive line that struggles to defend Shedeur Sanders in 2023. But like most new offensive linemen, Sitton will likely face ups and downs. Can he mature quickly and minimize mistakes during a highly anticipated fall stint in Boulder?
KJ BoldenSecurity, Georgia, The 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back has impressed as a playmaker since arriving in Athens as a mid-year enrollee. Coach Kirby Smart is keeping his depth chart a secret ahead of the Week 1 opener against Georgia CLEMSONBut Bolden will certainly get early playing time in the secondary, and he could push for a starting role in the latter half of the season as the Bulldogs’ latest standout freshman contributor.
Jaden JacksonDefensive Tackle, oklahoma, Brent Venables has compared Jackson to former Sooners nose guard Dusty Dvoracek and praised the first-year defender’s “different level of maturity” this month. That’s why Jackson is picked to start alongside the veteran TCU Transfer Demonic Williams against Temple in Week 1. Only time will tell on Jackson’s readiness to take on SEC offensive lines, but his 6-2, 300-pound frame will make him an immediate impact run defender.
Zebien BrownCornerback, Alabama, The Crimson Tide is returning without six cornerbacks from last year, needing to replace starters at both corner spots. The obvious candidates for these roles are Alabama-experienced transfers domni jackson ,USC) And Dashawn Jones ,Wake Forest) But Brown — one of the Crimson Tide’s three top-100 defensive back signees in 2024 — has stunned the coaching staff in Tuscaloosa and should be visible early and often, regardless of whether he earns starting duties anywhere this fall. Eli Leatherman
Notable offseason quotes
“To be honest, technically every player is a transfer. We signed a whole class of players who transferred out of high school.” CLEMSONDabo Swinney of the school expressed concern about additions not being added to the school through the transfer portal.
“We are paying the players.” — Balor Speaking with coach Dave Aranda, he talked about how the Bears improved their recruiting.
“I don’t have bad days, man. I might have a bad moment, maybe a bad hour, but I never have a bad day. It doesn’t happen. Because I set my own thermostat.” — Colorado From coach Deion Sanders to rapper Lil Wayne.
“It says in Hebrews, ‘Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.’ I’ve got all the faith in the world in the people in our building.” Florida He has begun working closely with coach Billy Napier ahead of a crucial third season with the Gators.
These records can be broken this season
OregoN S Dillon Gabriel He already has four 3,000-yard passing seasons on his resume, but if he can reach 4,000 in 2024 — or, more precisely, 4,353 — he’ll pass Case Keenum as the FBS career passing yards leader. Is this a long shot? It’s worth noting that Bo NixGabriel, Oregon’s starting quarterback last season, threw for 4,508 yards, and if the Ducks live up to expectations, there’s a scenario where Gabriel will have 15 games to reach that goal. strong and robust
The NCAA record for most wins in a season is a three-way tie between William Rhodes and Ken William Rhodes with 16 wins. Yale In 1894, Amos Alonzo Stagg Chicago and Yale’s Walter Camp in 1899. Teams can play 17 games in this season with a regular season, a conference title game, and potentially four playoff games (18 games if they play) Airport and get discounts). Someone might match or surpass this figure in the near future. Wilson
Technically this isn’t tracked by the NCAA for record-keeping purposes, but it looks like the record for career games played might fall this year. Unofficially, the record is 69 games, which is a tie between the two. Minnesota‘S Niles Pinckney (2016-21) and CLEMSON The trio of James Skalski (2016-21), Will Spiers (2016-21) and Will Swinney (2017-21). UTSA‘S oscar cardenas He has played in 57 games this season (thanks to four games in his redshirt season and 12 games in the COVID-impacted 2020 season), which means reaching 70 games is possible. Of course, he has to stay healthy and UTSA has to reach a bowl game, but the alleged record is in play. It’s possible other players are in the mix, but participation statistics aren’t as readily available as most stats. — Bonagura
Let’s talk about place-kickers. Since 1956, there have only been three players who have made 90 field goals in their careers: NC StateK Christopher Dunn (97 in 2018-22), Arizona StateZane Gonzalez (96 in 2013-16) and Auburn’s Daniel Carlson (92 in 2014-17) this fall, however, Boise State‘S Joanna Dalmas That group is in position to reach and then surpass them all. The Broncos’ fifth-year kicker enters 2024 with 80 career field goals, just 17 short of Dunn’s career NCAA record. A two-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist, Dalmas has made at least 23 field goals in each of his three season as Boise State’s full-time kicker. There’s a good chance he’ll make 100 career field goals this fall and finish the season as the N.C.A.A. All-time field goal king. –Lederman
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