B/R’s College Football Weekly Awards: Week 0

The offseason is however a memory. Week 0, that blessed Saturday, sounded in the return of college football in 2023.

Sure, a seven-game schedule didn’t result in a vast array of stress. Notre Dame and USC were the only ranked groups on the field, and the next-biggest video game– except your own fandom, possibly– consisted of either Ohio and San Diego State or Vanderbilt and Hawaii.

But it was genuine, real football for a whole day.

Here at Weekly Awards, we commemorate everything. We point out the normal suspects like Sam Hartman and Caleb Williams, however there’s space to applaud UMass and Jacksonville State while taking a look at weird box ratings.

That’s all ahead in our Week 0 rundown.

One easy interaction on Saturday night catches this subject well. While I discussed Week 0’s outcomes to a good friend, his face turned quizzical and asked, “Wait, UMass seriously won?”

Sure did.

During the last 3 complete seasons, the program has actually treked to a single success with 11 losses. Include the winless four-game stretch in 2020, and it has actually rather potentially been the country’s worst program because 2019.

Worse yet, the Minutemen have actually inhabited the basement of college football for more than a years. In the last 11 seasons integrated, they have actually amounted to 21 wins– a typical simply listed below 2 each year– with 4 of those success coming versus lower-division competitors.

But the group is formally 1-0 in 2023.

Taisun Phommachanh, a previous quarterback of Clemson and Georgia Tech, tossed for 192 backyards and hurried for 96 backyards in his UMass launching. Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams scuttled for 79 lawns and 2 ratings, and the Minutemen removed New Mexico State 41-30

Obviously?

No matter what occurred on Saturday, it was a safe presumption that Sam Hartman and Caleb Williams would be the primary subjects.

Hartman, a transfer from Wake Forest, made his Notre Dame launching versus Navy in Ireland. Throughout an uncomplicated 42 -3 thrashing, he linked on 19- of-23 passes for 251 lawns and 4 ratings. He managed 6 goal drives on his 7 belongings.

Williams did the same, tossing for 278 backyards and 4 goals while assisting USC to a 56-28 win over San Jose State. (Still a bit worried about that defense, USC, however that’s a story for another day.)

No awards are given out after beating Navy and SJSU, however Hartman and Williams supported their billings in Week 0.

This season, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston are starting their shift from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision as members of Conference USA.

And a minimum of one is beginning with a success.

Behind an exceptional hurrying efficiency–210 backyards at 5.0 per bring– and a defense that snagged 3 takeaways, Jacksonville State managed a 17-14 victory over league enemy UTEP.

Seventh-year security Jeremiah Harris supplied the crucial minute, damaging a path on 4th-and-1 for the game-sealing interception.

Jacksonville State, which is led by previous West Virginia and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez, has an incredible chance to develop its FBS profile if the group can handle a couple of conference wins.

Do you have a pal who views a video game and periodically exclaims “Even I might do much better than that!”

Well, that in fact might have taken place. (Maybe.)

In a 22-17 loss at Louisiana Tech– which is a ridiculous margin, provided this discussion– Florida International completed with 4 passing backyards. Grayson James ended 5-of-14 with his conclusions tallying 4, 2, absolutely no, no and minus-two backyards.

Four backyards. Four!

Somehow, FIU held a lead generally till the last minute of the 4th quarter. Louisiana Tech made it through due to the fact that freshman back Jacob Fields scuttled 30 lawns for a goal with 1: 01 to play.

Second-year coach Mike MacIntyre and offending planner David Yost have some major problems to attend to.

The Other Winners: San Diego State and Vanderbilt

No concerns, folks, we’re hat-tipping all the victors. San Diego State leaned on its defense in a 20-13 accomplishment over Ohio– feel much better quickly, Kurtis Rourke— and Vanderbilt won a weather-delayed 35-28 video game versus Hawaii. Quick shoutout to Vandy’s Jayden McGowan, who scored on a 97- lawn kickoff return and captured 6 passes for 72 lawns.

Best of What’s Next: Week 1

I hope you taken pleasure in Saturday’s slate, which is constantly a great method to alleviate into the season. The across the country mayhem returns Thursday night with Florida’s journey to Utah. In general, Week 1 has lots of fascinating video games and includes a Sunday face-off in between Top 10 groups LSU and Florida State. Buckle up, my good friends, due to the fact that college football will get wild.