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Week 1 is finally here. There’s plenty to know about Thursday’s 21 matchups and the games that will be played this weekend. Some notable names will make their return after suffering major injuries last season, and many new players will get their first chance to show off the field. Also, what were the coaches saying this offseason?
Utah quarterback Cam Rising is coming off a knee injury that sidelined him last season, but don’t 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 could Alabama freshman cornerback Xavien Brown earn a starting role this season?
Our reporters break down the records that could be broken this season, five freshmen to know and other big things entering Week 1.
Big name is back after injury
of Utah Cam Rising:
Cam Rising’s absence last season due to a major knee injury — sustained in the Rose Bowl the previous season — derailed the Utes before they had a chance to really get going. Rising’s return should immediately return the Utes to the nation’s elite, given how successful they were in his previous two seasons as the starting quarterback. Remember, both of those seasons ended with trips to Pasadena.
In 2021, he was a first-team All-Pac-12 quarterback as he led the Utes to the conference title. They repeated as champions in 2022, and although Rising was named honorable mention 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 come out with another productive season as Utah tries to make a name for itself in the Big 12. — Kyle Bonagura
Connor Wegman of Texas A&M:
The Wegman era in College Station was one of promise but also disappointment. He set a new Texas A&M passing record with 338 yards in his first start in 2022, throwing four touchdowns against Ole Miss before scoring two in an upset of No. 6 LSU that ended the season 5–7. He started last season by throwing five touchdown passes in the opener against New Mexico.
He played three complete 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 a foot injury against Auburn ended his season as the Aggies fell to 7. -6 is over. New coach Mike Elko lured Colin Klein from Klein’s alma mater, Kansas State, to revitalize the offense, and his first order of business was to fix an offensive line that struggled 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 be there on August 31st.” — Dave Wilson
Riley Leonard of Notre Dame:
Although it wasn’t technically his final game in a Duke uniform, Durham’s Riley Leonard era unofficially ended with a brutal tackle in a 21-14 loss to Notre Dame last September. He returned from an ankle injury for two more games, but the magic was gone.
Coincidentally, that injury catapulted him from the losing sidelines to the winning, Leonard transferred to Notre Dame in December. He sat out spring practice but insisted his ankle is fully healthy and stronger than ever, meaning the Irish have a potential superstar at QB. In 2022, the last season he was fully healthy, Leonard was one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, throwing for 20 touchdowns and running for 13 more. — David Hale
Five freshmen to watch
Jeremiah Smith, wide receiver, Ohio State: The dynamic pass catcher will start alongside returners Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate in Week 1 against Akron. For all of Ohio State’s elite wide receiver talent lately, Chris Carter still holds the program’s freshman records for catches (41), yards (648). and touchdowns (8), set in 1984. Will Smith — who could make a run at those marks in 2024 — be relied upon by the Buckeyes as expected?
Jordan Seaton, left tackle, Colorado: Seaton’s Year 1 transition is one of the most interesting stories in college football. The five-star tackle is a definite upgrade on a Colorado offensive line that struggled to protect Shadeur Sanders in 2023. But like most freshman offensive linemen, Sitton will likely experience ups and downs Can he mature quickly and minimize mistakes throughout a highly anticipated fall in Boulder?
KJ Bolden, safety, Georgia: The 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back has impressed as a playmaker since enrolling in Athens as a midyear. Coach Kirby Smart is keeping his depth chart under wraps ahead of Georgia’s Week 1 opener against Clemson, but Bolden is certain to see playing time in the secondary and may push for a starting role in the latter half of the season. The Bulldogs’ latest standout freshman contributor.
Jayden Jackson, defensive tackle, Oklahoma: Brent Venables compared Jackson to former Sooners nose guard Dusty Dvoracek and praised the first-year defender’s “different level of maturity” this month. That’s part of why Jackson is slated to start alongside veteran TCU transfer Damonique Williams in Week 1 against Temple. Time will tell on Jackson’s readiness to tackle SEC offensive lines, but his 6-2, 300-pound frame should make him an immediately dominant run defender.
Xavien Brown, cornerback, Alabama: The Crimson Tide return without six cornerbacks from last fall, needing to replace starters at both corner spots. Obvious candidates for those roles are Alabama-experienced transfers Domani Jackson (USC) and Dashon Jones (Wake Forest). But Brown — one of the Crimson Tide’s three top-100 defensive back signings in 2024 — has spooked Tuscaloosa’s coaching staff and should be seen early and often, whether or not he earns the starting job somewhere this fall. — Eli Lederman
Notable Offseason Quotes
“Honestly, every player is technically a transfer. We signed a whole class of guys who transferred out of high school.” Clemson’s Dabo Swinney on the school’s lack of additions through the transfer portal.
“We’re paying the players.” — Baylor coach Dave Aranda, how the Bears have improved recruiting.
“I don’t have a bad day, man. I might have a bad moment, even a bad hour, but never a bad day. I don’t. Because I set my own thermostat.” — Colorado coach Deion Sanders to rapper Lil Wayne.
“The Hebrew says, ‘Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.’ I’ve got all the faith in the world in the people in our building.” — Florida coach Billy Napier ahead of his third season with the Gators.
Records that could be broken this season
Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel already has four 3,000-yard passing seasons on his resume, but if he can reach 4,000 in 2024 — or, more specifically, 4,353 — he’ll pass Case Keenum as the FBS career passing yard leader. Is that a long shot? It’s worth noting that Bo Nix, Oregon’s QB last season, threw for 4,508 yards and if the Ducks live up to expectations, there’s a scenario where Gabriel has 15 games to hit that mark. — hell
The NCAA record for most wins in a season is a three-way tie at 16 between Yale’s William Rhodes in 1894, Chicago’s Amos Alonzo Stagg in 1899 and Yale’s Walter Camp in 1899. Teams can play 17 regular season games this season. , a conference title game and potentially four playoff games (18 games if they play Hawaii and get a waiver). There’s a fair bet that someone could tie or surpass that mark in the near future. — Wilson
It’s not technically tracked by the NCAA for record-keeping purposes, but the career games played record seems likely to fall this year. Unofficially, the record stands at 69 games, a tie between Minnesota’s Niles Pinckney (2016-21) and the Clemson trio of James Skalsky (2016-21), Will Spears (2016-21) and Will Sweeney (2017-21). UTSA’s Oscar Cardenas has played in 57 games this season (thanks to four games in his redshirt season, plus 12 games in the 2020 Covid-affected season), making it possible to reach 70 games. He must stay healthy, and UTSA must reach a bowl game, but said record is in play. It’s possible that other players are in the mix, but participation statistics aren’t as readily available as most statistics. — Bonagura
Let’s talk about place-kickers. Since 1956, only three have made 90 field goals in their careers: NC State’s Christopher Dunn (97 in 2018-22), Arizona State’s Jane Gonzalez (96 in 2013-16) and Auburn’s Daniel Carlson (92 in 2014-17). But this fall, Boise State’s Jonah Dalmas is in position to reach that group and then pass them all. The Broncos’ fifth-year kicker enters 2024 with 80 career field goals, just 17 shy of Dunn’s career NCAA record. A two-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist, Dalmas made at least 23 field goals in each of his three season as Boise State’s full-time kicker. He’ll clear 100 career field goals this fall and has a good chance to finish the season as an NCAA All-time field goal king. — Lederman
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