It’s a weekly problem for school soccer followers: Let’s not make sweeping declarations after one sport. It turns into much more difficult when the quarterback place is on the middle of the dialog. It’s crucial place, in a sport and the trajectory of a program. As we glance throughout the nation, a number of conditions have fan bases on reverse sides of overreaction or underreaction.
Essentially the most notable story of the weekend was Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers’ belly pressure and Arch Manning’s aid obligation, which included 5 touchdowns in a 56-7 win over UTSA. Naturally, when an damage occurs and a extremely touted backup shines, some will elevate ideas and questions on what may very well be achieved with the backup. However that will be an overreaction.
Ewers possible received’t play this weekend, however his damage doesn’t sound critical, which is nice information for Texas. There has by no means been controversy internally concerning the quarterback dialog, and with three weeks earlier than dealing with Oklahoma, it looks like Manning will simply steer the ship till Ewers returns. If Manning continues to shine, that’s nice. Texas followers can get a peek into the longer term whereas figuring out a quarterback able to profitable the nationwide championship this yr is coming again quickly.
Texas’ in-state rival, Texas A&M, is in a distinct state of affairs. Manning shared the SEC Freshman of the Week honors with Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed, who stuffed in late discover for starter Conner Weigman and shined in opposition to Florida with three touchdowns. Weigman, proficient however not all the time out there, has been a blended bag to start out the season. Reed offered a spark to the offense via the air and on the bottom and will elevate the ceiling of the offense due to that potential.
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Weigman, like Ewers, is taken into account week to week, and though he has extra program fairness than Reed, Weigman is way much less established than Ewers. The Aggies face Bowling Inexperienced and Arkansas earlier than Missouri on Oct. 5. Will probably be attention-grabbing to see what occurs with the Aggies.
Extra quarterback information broke Monday morning when it was introduced that Michigan would transfer towards Alex Orji over Davis Warren, who had a tough day in opposition to Arkansas State. One solution to react: Michigan’s offense has no likelihood this season. Or that is the participant who ought to’ve been ranging from the start. Elsewhere, NC State will proceed to start out CJ Bailey over injured Grayson McCall, and Auburn is rolling with Hank Brown over Payton Thorne once more this week. It’s solely Week 4, and faculty soccer is fluid, so we’ll preserve monitoring.
Listed here are 5 extra issues we’re overreacting about, not reacting sufficient about and completely reacting to — all sides equally wanted within the discourse of our nice sport.
We’re overreacting to … trash speak.
Within the newest speaking level involving Shedeur Sanders, the Colorado quarterback went viral for his postgame alternate with Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, and Sanders declined an embrace. Many who noticed solely that alternate rapidly wrote off Sanders as being disrespectful, persevering with his scrutiny from per week in the past, when he left the sphere early in opposition to Nebraska. However there are two sides to the story, and Sanders’ response was warranted.
Shedeur Sanders and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi full alternate😱
FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/uRuUSXtcVE@deionsandersjr pic.twitter.com/mraNKbAKXu
— GUCCE🦬🐦⬛ (@gucceCU) September 15, 2024
Right here’s a part of what Fowler-Nicolosi stated earlier than the sport: “The hype, the media prepare solely will get to date on the finish of the day. You’ve lined up 11 guys in opposition to our 11 guys, and we’ll see who desires it extra. And we’ll see how far Instagram followers take them.”
“We should always have murdered them guys …we’re coming for revenge”
“We’ll see how far instagram followers will get them”
Right here’s what CSU’s Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Tory Horton needed to say about final yr’s Rocky Mountain Showdown and the upcoming sport in opposition to CU: pic.twitter.com/51ZBPyigpf
— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) September 12, 2024
Sanders obtained the win and might react how he desires. And Fowler-Nicolosi’s feedback had been high-quality too. It’s competitors! No private traces had been crossed, no foul play on the sphere ensued. Good old style trash speak (inside limits) is sweet for the sport, and rivalries like this are good as effectively.
We’re underreacting to … how good the Group of 5 has been.
Within the previous period, there wasn’t a lot room for dialog concerning the Group of 5 groups throughout the nationwide championship panorama, however we will have these discussions with the expanded School Soccer Playoff subject, as at the very least one Group of 5 workforce will get in yearly. With that, that is the decision to concentrate all through the season as a result of good ball is being performed.
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Mountain West workforce UNLV is 2-0 in opposition to the Massive 12 with wins in opposition to Houston and Kansas. Throughout the identical convention, Boise State took Oregon to the brink and has a respectable Heisman Trophy candidate in operating again Ashton Jeanty. The MAC arguably has the largest storyline of the season: Northern Illinois is ranked after its win over Notre Dame, but in addition, Toledo simply went to Mississippi State and had a dominant win, and Bowling Inexperienced took Penn State to the wire in Week 2.
Then there’s Liberty, final yr’s Group of 5 consultant within the New Yr’s Six, which is 3-0.
Memphis made the newest huge assertion with a win at Florida State, though that doesn’t maintain as a lot weight as it might’ve within the preseason, nevertheless it’s a serious win nonetheless. That win, it doesn’t matter what FSU seems to be like on the finish of the yr, will assist Memphis’ Playoff case if it takes care of enterprise.
The times of monitoring one undefeated workforce needing all of the breaks to have an opportunity on the Playoff are achieved. Now it’s a multilayered, multi-conference dialog that can occur yearly. Let’s all dive into it.
We’re overreacting to … Georgia’s street sport in opposition to Kentucky.
In case you learn final week’s version, we talked about overreacting to top-10 groups struggling as huge favorites early within the yr. This week’s overreaction sufferer: Georgia, which escaped Kentucky with a 13-12 win.
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After one other gradual begin, Georgia’s want for higher offense is getting actual
Let’s begin with some respect for Kentucky. Georgia has been held under 20 factors on the street thrice up to now 5 years: 2020 at Kentucky, 2022 at Kentucky and 2024 at Kentucky. Some groups, in sure locations, simply make for good matchups. Moreover, Kentucky has recorded eight straight bowl-eligible seasons. There’s no denying Georgia was sluggish, however absolutely different prime groups have struggled in opposition to groups extra inferior than Kentucky.
In the midst of greater than 40 straight regular-season wins, some might be uglier than others, however nice groups discover a means. Georgia discovered a means and prolonged a historic streak, and that must be sufficient to carry serve within the rankings. However now there’s a brand new No. 1 workforce.
Texas has been probably the most spectacular workforce week over week to start out the season, however a case might be made that Georgia’s three wins (Clemson, Tennessee Tech, Kentucky) are higher than Texas’ wins (Colorado State, Michigan, UTSA). The great thing about it’s that these groups will meet in October to settle it on the sphere (at the very least till we get to the Playoff).
As for Georgia, maybe it’s the wake-up name that’s wanted. It higher be as a result of Alabama is up subsequent on Sept. 28 in Tuscaloosa.
We’re underreacting to … Iowa’s offensive enchancment.
One of the crucial intriguing subplots of final season was Iowa’s Drive for 325 factors underneath offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz. The offense fell means brief (216 factors) and was held under 10 factors 5 instances earlier than Ferentz was let go.
Insert new coordinator Tim Lester. Insert much more yards and much more factors.
Iowa’s offense, which ranked 132nd (out of 133) in factors per sport and 133rd in yards per sport in 2023, is ranked 58th in factors per sport (32.3) and 54th in yards per sport (418) this season. The Hawkeyes have the main rusher in all of faculty soccer in Kaleb Johnson. Consequently, no workforce within the nation has extra 30-yard rushes than Iowa (six). Although the Hawkeyes have performed solely three video games, that’s an unbelievable begin to a turnaround.
Some will level out that Iowa has performed Illinois State, Iowa State and Troy, and that’s true, however Iowa reached 400 yards as soon as final season. In 2022, it beat FCS workforce South Dakota State 7-3 with two safeties. The extent of competitors hasn’t mattered in mocking the offense beforehand, so it shouldn’t matter in giving credit score now. There are nonetheless questions, and the competitors stage is about to choose up, however we should acknowledge that that is the most effective (early-season) unit turnaround in faculty soccer.
We’re reacting completely to … Florida State’s downfall.
Many knew it was over after Week 2, however just a few individuals had been nonetheless holding out hope for the Seminoles after their bye week. The decision is in: The 2024 Florida State Seminoles are achieved. It was apparent from the second play of their sport Saturday: a fumble recovered by Memphis en path to the Seminoles’ 20-12 house loss. Errors continued to hang-out Florida State all through the day, marking 4 straight losses for this system after it began final yr 13-0.
FSU Fumbles on the second play of the sport
Only a dumpster hearth in Tallahassee pic.twitter.com/GSqpXEjkub
— School Soccer Headlines (@CFBHeadlines) September 14, 2024
There’s nonetheless intrigue, primarily about what is going to occur at quarterback. For now, DJ Uiagalelei is the starter, however that might change. What’s simple is the necessity for some form of spark after a number of tough weeks. Mike Norvell’s job safety just isn’t in query, however this system wants a tradition reset. Sadly, it’s going to take a number of lengthy months to get that course of going.
(Prime picture: Scott Wachter / USA At the moment)