GameDay Kickoff: Stacked QB spaces, huge conference matchups and more

Week 4 is here as we dive into another weekend of college football

madness.The most significant story going into Saturday’s slate of games is if Arch Manning will get his first college start. After recording the attention of fans, he’ll have a lot to live up to in the spotlight as Texas faces UL Monroe.USC will be making a look at the Big Home for the very first time in over 60 years as its see will begin conference play for the Trojans. Elsewhere in the Big 10, No. 24 Illinois gos to No. 22 Nebraska where one Illinois receiver lives out a different variation of a dream he once had.Before all of this plays out, Appalachian

State gets things began as it hosts South Alabama on Thursday.Our college football professionals provide insight on players, sound

and stories entering into Week 4. Dive to an area: Texas QB depth |

Illinois’ Pat Bryant|Need to needs to win New conference opponent|Quotes of the week Stacked QB rooms are nothing brand-new at Texas Todd Dodge has a distinct perspective to the hysteria around Arch

Manning, who made a national splash in his first substantial playing time at Texas after starter and Heisman Prize candidate Quinn Ewers sustained an oblique injury.Dodge, a quarterback guru and famous Texas high school coach with seven state champions– including

three-peats at two different schools– resided in the burnt orange spotlight himself. As the very first Texas high school quarterback to toss for more than 3,000 backyards in a season in 1980, he was a star recruit for the Longhorns who started as a celebrity backup himself.”The most popular guy in any college town is the No. 2 quarterback,”stated Dodge, now the coach at Lovejoy High

School in the Dallas-Fort Worth location.”I’ve been the No. 2 where I could not purchase my own dinner and everybody wanted to let me know just how much they thought I should be playing. And I’ve been the No. 1 who’s played well, who was most likely over-fawned-over and then I have actually been the No. 1 when the team lost and I didn’t play well and I’m the most significant bum in three counties.”He said fans frequently assume a quarterback room is filled with jealousy or back-biting, but in his profession, he has actually found it to be the opposite, which Steve Sarkisian repeated Monday when he stated absolutely nothing modifications if Manning starts. The bond in between Ewers and his backup appears, Dodge said. And he recognizes with both players and their households, namely Ewers, due to the fact that his child Riley, was Ewers’head coach at Southlake Carroll.”They’re extremely, really talented boys that both could be playing nearly anywhere in the country, but the No. 2’s family [the Mannings] put incredible worth in development and perseverance, “he stated.”To me, that takes a little bit of the angst off of me as the starter understanding that I do not have a backup who’s out there simply every subsiding minute attempting to convince people that he should be the guy. “Greg Davis, too, experienced the attention in his time in Austin. In 1998, Major Applewhite went 8-2 as the starter, was picked Huge 12 Freshman of the Year, then Texas landed the No. 1 possibility in the country, Chris Simms, the well-pedigreed child of New York Giants legend Phil Simms. For the next three years, Simms and Applewhite both had their high points, and both acted as co-starters. How do you handle that situation? “Clearly you don’t reside in a vacuum,”according to Davis, offending coordinator under Mack Brown.”You’re aware of what they say in the grocery store.”Davis has ties to the Mannings himself. He hired Eli alongside Simms, recruited Peyton at Arkansas and provided Arch’s papa, Cooper, when he was coaching at Tulane.Davis stated the pressure inside the building doesn’t come from attention or fans in the grocery store. It originates from picking the player who had the very best possibility to win. For Dodge, there’s no concern, especially after seeing Ewers beat Oklahoma, then Alabama and Michigan in big roadway victories.”Gosh, all of us Texas fans are fired up about what Arch did recently,”Dodge said.”But in the big photo, there’s a reason that Quinn Ewers is the starter. When you begin having to deal with Georgia and individuals like that, well, it doesn’t suggest that Arch Manning can’t have a bang-up game versus a Georgia or an Alabama. It’s just that Quinn Ewers has actually already done it.”– Dave Wilson Illinois’Bryant dreams huge after being formed through catastrophe Tattoos are filling up Pat Bryant’s body, memorializing those whose lives when ran parallel to his but diverged and ended far too soon.Bryant, the star senior wide receiver for No. 24 Illinois, now has 4 tattoos honoring his pals from Jacksonville, Florida, who have actually

died in recent years. Among the most agonizing came just 2 days after Bryant and the Illini played in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, when Bryant’s friend, Alim Denson, nicknamed”Twin,”died while in jail. Pat Bryant shows one of his several tattoos remembering a buddy of his. Courtesy of Pat Bryant”A lot of those guys, I matured playing sports with, all of us had the exact same dream, “Bryant said.”Being able to reach my dream, understanding they’re looking down onme, they’re extremely, really happy. Likewise, for the kids of the neighborhood, I want to show them that there’s more to

life than gun violence, drugs. I simply wish to be an excellent good example for my neighborhood. “Bryant, who leads Illinois with 235 receiving lawns and four touchdowns this season, has contributed to a new neighborhood, far from home. He was called a team captain last month, as he got ready for his third season as a starter.The 6-foot-3 Bryant received 33 scholarship deals in high school, including all the in-state schools, except the one he genuinely desired, Florida, where both of his parents attended. Bryant committed to Illinois in June 2020, basically sight unseen, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.But in mid-December, just before completion of a delayed and reduced season, Illinois fired coach Lovie Smith. The first high school finalizing day was simply 3 days away. Wide receivers coach Andrew Hayes-Stoker called Bryant and motivated him to sign anyhow, which he did. 3 days later, Illinois hired Bret Bielema to replace Smith.When Bryant finally went to Champaign, there was some confusion.

“I flew in, thinking the University of Illinois was in Chicago, “Bryant stated.”I leave the aircraft, we get in an Uber, they’re taking us to the dorm, and I’m simply waiting to see the big skyline. And I see corn field after corn field. I was like, ‘There’s no way, ‘but I adapted to where I was. Excellent college town.”Bryant has constructed a strong

connection to Champaign. Previously this month, he and 2 teammates pooled

their NIL profits to donate backpacks and school supplies to regional kids. Bryant’s desire to return stems in part from his dad, Patrick, the athletic director of the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville, which positions officers to aid with youth sports programs around the city. Pat Jr. played basketball and flag football in the league.” He’s been absolutely nothing however a class example of everything we believe in here,”Bielema said.After 7 goal captures in 2023, Bryant is on speed for a breakout season, which continues Friday night at No. 22 Nebraska. Bielema has gotten great reviews from NFL scouts on Bryant, who likewise excels with run blocking. Bryant’s course advises Bielema of the Atlanta Falcons’Casey Washington.At a morning meeting after Illinois’second win, Bielema recognized Bryant as the team’s top general performer.

“He lives a regular every day that gives him an advantage,”Bielema said

.”We talked about how he’s in the building by 5:15 a.m., he doesn’t need to be checked in by 6:30. It’s simply a remarkable thing to witness. He knows where he’s at, he understands how to take care of himself. Sadly, he’s had some tragedy in his life and it assists motivate him for the future. “Bryant plays for Denson and the other pals he has lost, but he’s likewise focused on his present teammates.”I feel like I have an effective voice, I can connect to everyone on the team,”he stated.”I feel people appreciate me, not just since of my game but since of the type of individual I am.”– Adam Rittenberg What groups require to take advantage of to win Utah: Any sort of analysis about this game for the Utes needs to start with the status of quarterback Web cam Increasing. There hasn’t been a main update about whether he will play, however it’s tough not to translate

the reality that he spoke to press reporters today about the game as an indication he will be available– unless it’s a fancy kind of gamesmanship, which can not be ruled out. After falling back 14-3 to Utah State last week, the Utes had the ability to return and win conveniently, however it is very important the Utes do not follow that script again. Independent of whether Increasing plays, the Utes are at their best when the running game does the heavy lifting, and it does not suit their strengths to go into catch-up mode. This is particularly real against an explosive offense like Oklahoma State. The best-case situation here for the Utes is if Increasing plays, they develop Micah Bernard early and neutralize Ollie Gordon II to a reasonable degree.– Kyle Bonagura Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Oklahoma State: With back-to-back games versus Utah and Kansas State to start the 2024 Huge 12 slate, Oklahoma State will go into a season-defining stretch. What better method for the Cowboys to make a declaration in the Big 12 title hunt than by figuring out the running game and letting loose reigning Doak Walker Award winner Gordon in Week 4? Coach Mike Gundy says he’s “not concerned “about Oklahoma State’s start on the ground this seasos. But through Week 3, the Cowboys rank 105th in rushing amongst FBS offenses and Gordon is balancing 3.5 backyards per bring, below 6.1 in 2023 when Gordon finished seventh in Heisman Trophy ballot. Oklahoma State leaned on its death game to storm past Tulsa last Saturday when Gordon brought 17 times

for simply 41 lawns. Relying so heavily on quarterback Alan Bowman will not be as simple this weekend against Utah’s 26th-ranked pass defense. The Cowboys’broader College Football Playoff aspirations most likely hinge on discovering a method to get Gordon and the run game going. Saturday versus Utah is a good place for them to start.– Eli Lederman Be familiar with your new conference opponent Michigan QB Alex Orji will get the start against USC Saturday. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images With so much anticipation heading into this season about the new West Coast additions of the Big 10 playing matches like this one, it’s hard to believe how much USC and Michigan have currently switched roles.The protecting nationwide champion has actually not looked the part after losing its head coach in Jim Harbaugh, but also plenty of skill on the field such as quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum, amongst a number of others. After losing 31-12 to Texas in your home and struggling on offense recently against Arkansas State, this isn’t precisely looking like the encore Wolverines fans envisioned.Now,

USC pertains to town for its very first marquee Huge Tengame, looking far eliminated from the bitter end it needed to the Caleb Williams period last year. After firing

defensive organizer Alex Grinch, Lincoln Riley revamped the protective staff with previous UCLA coordinator D’Anton Lynn, and after a statement win over LSU in the opener and a nothing of Utah State at home, the Trojans are coming off a bye week and look to be en route up.Despite any momentum USC might have, the concept of playing– and winning– a road game in the Big House looms large on any challenger, especially one that hasn’t been there because 1958. Though USC players keep harping on their improved physicality in the trenches being the choosing factor in this game, Riley has remained adamant over the past week that in spite of its battles, Michigan is a really excellent group with NFL-caliber players. You can see how much he is trying to will his team to not view itself as the favorites, even if the chances say so.”Everybody wants to write the story after a number of games in the season for everybody,”Riley said today.”And it’s a long season, man. That’s an excellent football group that we have a lot of respect for. To have anything less would be an error on our part.”– Paolo Uggetti Quotes

of the week”Yeah, there’s an old quarterback from Muleshoe, Texas that’s going to come out of retirement, can see if his legs still got it, “Lincoln Riley, smiling, when asked if USC has somebody on the scout group that can replicate what Michigan QB Alex Orji does on the ground.” No, we got a number of guys that we’re trying to utilize a little bit. But he’s an actually great professional athlete. I told people last night I was familiar with him. We recruited him a bit coming out of high school, remember, I have a lot of regard for him as a player and an athlete.

“”I thought that they were trying to make it hard on us, to be honest with you,”Mike Gundy said Monday with Oklahoma State looking down back-to-back meetings versus conference favorites Utah and Kansas State to open Huge 12 play. “Commissioner [Brett Yormark] is my pal, but he doesn’t do the scheduling. So

, I’ve sent the incorrect guy pecans for Christmas. I ought to’ve sent the scheduling guy pecans for Christmas.”” Need to be an excellent crowd. It’s an enthusiastic fan base. I’m expecting them to be exceptionally quiet for us, out of respect to me and our program, too.”– Former Sooners quarterback and coach Josh Heupel, with a small smile, on going back to Oklahoma as the coach at Tennessee.