‘I understand the trainee body is excited’: Previewing Miami-Cal, a
Week 6 in college football is here as we dive into another weekend filled with interesting matchups you will not wish to miss.Cal is hosting No. 8 Miami on Saturday in an ACC matchup that has Bears fans ready to appear for their group with College GameDay visiting for the very first time. However can quarterback Camera Ward and the Hurricanes spoil the show and continue their perfect season on the road?No. 9 Missouri will take a trip to College Station to handle No. 25 Texas A&M in the only ranked-versus-ranked matchup of the weekend. While both teams stay unbeaten in SEC play, one team will get its very first conference loss.Our college football professionals sneak peek huge games and players to know about and share quotes of the week from coaches ahead of Week 6. Jump to a section: FSU beginning QB|What to concentrate on to win|Miami-Cal Freshmen to view|Quotes of the week Brock Glenn called starting QB for Florida State in game versus Clemson Before the season started, one of the greatest games circled on the calendar was Clemson at Florida State, with previous Tigers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei now betting the Seminoles. But heading into their match Saturday, Uiagalelei will not have a possibility to bet his former team.Uiagalelei is out with a damaged finger, indicating backup quarterback Brock Glenn has when again been put in an unenviable spot. According to ESPN Research Study, Glenn would end up being the 4th quarterback in the playoff era to
make his first 3 career begins versus top-15 teams.Glenn began his first career game as a true freshman in the ACC national championship last year thanks to injuries to Jordan Travis and Tate Rodemaker. Florida State won, but only after going to Lawrance Toafili out of the Wildcat format. Then Glenn started the
Orange Bowl, a 63-3 loss to Georgia. Now he is tabbed to begin against Clemson and its powerful defensive front.Coach Mike Norvell acknowledged the”very challenging situations “Glenn has dealt with in his starts, including,”He’s constructed for it. I love his energy, his teammates respect that, the work, the investment he makes. He’s got a fantastic bounce to him. There’s no question Brock has actually earned his regard here in his time in Tallahassee. “He may have earned respect, but it has not been easy for Glenn. In those 2 starts in 2015, Glenn went 17-of-47 for 194 lawns without any touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Recently in relief of Uiagalelei in the fourth quarter in a loss to SMU, Glenn went 0-for-4. Florida State is 1-4 and has actually had a host of issues on offense beyond quarterback, including depressing offensive line play and minimal production from its backs and receivers.Florida State ranks No. 116 in the country in 3rd down conversions, No. 130 in hurrying offense (65.2 backyards per game), No. 125 in overall offense(278.2 lawns per game )and No. 113 in turnover margin(minus-8). Norvell told ESPN earlier this week the frustration runs deep. “I don’t believe we’ve managed hardship or disappointing results very well. We haven’t had the ability to execute, coaches have to ensure we’re putting guys in the ideal positions. We’ve not done a sufficient task of that as players, as coaches, as a whole football team. That’s why we are where we are.” Will Glenn change those fortunes?
Not without help from his teammates.– Andrea Adelson What each group has to concentrate on to win Louisville: There’s a pretty clear formula if Louisville wants to topple SMU in Week 6: Hold on to the football. The Cardinals really played quite well against Notre Dame last week however lost since they committed 3 turnovers, all of which led to Irish points, and since of a 1-of-5 efficiency on fourth-down shots, 3 of which offered Notre Dame a brief field and another that
would’ve been a chip-shot field goal for Louisville. On the flip side, no group in the nation has benefited more from takeaways than SMU, which is plus-63 in points-off-turnovers margin– almost double the next-closest Power 4 team.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated SMU: After a frustrating loss to BYU on Sept. 6, SMU made a modification at QB, going from Preston Stone to Kevin Jennings. While it has had a significant effect on the offense overall, it’s not the death game that has made the real strides. It’s the ground game. In its very first two FBS games, SMU balanced 108 rushing lawns and scored a total of 44 points. In its past two because the QB swap, it has averaged 221 rush yards and tallied 108 points. However the test gets much larger in Week 6
versus Louisville’s
stout defensive front. In its past 10 quarters, the Cardinals ‘defense has actually surrendered simply 3.2 yards per developed run and packed almost one third of runs for a loss or no gain. SMU will rely greatly on Jennings and emerging star Brashard Smith to move the ball on the ground, however to do that better than even Notre Dame could versus Louisville will be a hard task.– David Hale Be familiar with your brand-new conference rival Miami QB Web cam Ward has totaled 18 TDs through five games and aims to include more in Saturday’s match against Cal. Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire Eventually, we’ll all get over the absurdity that Miami and Cal are in the exact same conference, however it still seems worth acknowledging today in advance of the Hurricanes’ journey to Berkeley. That stated, it won’t be unfamiliar territory for a few of Miami’s crucial figures, as coach Mario Cristobal
(Oregon ), quarterback Web cam Ward(Washington State)and leading rusher Damien Martinez(Oregon State)have all formerly completed versus the Bears in Berkeley. In 2015, Martinez won 52-40 at Cal as he rushed for 89 lawns and a touchdown, while Ward threw for 354 yards and 3 goals in a 42-39 loss.Cal’s transfer to the ACC has actually pumped fresh life into the program, but after a 3-0 start– highlighted by a 21-14 win at Auburn– the Bears were tripped up two weeks ago by then-winless Florida State as their offense kept stalling at a loss zone. The big news for Cal today is it anticipates to have star running back Jaydn Ott closer to complete health, which would supply a big increase after he had actually been slowed by an ankle injury suffered in the season opener versus UC Davis. Ott is coming off a brilliant sophomore season in which he hurried for 1,305 lawns and 12 goals and when healthy figures to be among the best offensive players in the ACC.– Kyle Bonagura 5 freshmen to enjoy
Zabien Brown, cornerback, Alabama: Brown pertained to Tuscaloosa from California powerhouse Mater Dei and wasn’t even the top cornerback in his own signing class at Alabama. That was No. 2 general prospect Jaylen Mbakwe. However it’s Brown who has actually emerged this fall as a freshman starter for the Crimson Tide, and it was his very first interception that sealed Alabama’s 41-34 win over Georgia in Week 5. Starting opposite knowledgeable USC transfer Domani Jackson, Brown trails behind just three Crimson Tide defensive backs in total plays in pass coverage this fall, and he gets in Week 6 ranked 43rd nationally in protective conclusion portion, coming in at 31.3%on
16 balls thrown his method. Brown was hectic in Week 5 as
Georgia targeted him 9 times Saturday, but the 6-foot, 196-pound freshman held his own, down to the game’s last meaningful snap when he leapt in front of senior pass catcher Colbie Young to select off Carson Beck in the end zone, squashing the Bulldogs ‘late comeback bid.While the focus has rightly hung on standout Alabama freshman pass catcher Ryan Williams, the Crimson Tide have a budding first-year star in the secondary, too. Brown must have an easier match at Vanderbilt on Saturday(4:15 p.m. ET, SEC Network )against a Commodores passing game that ranks 101st nationally (184.5 backyards per game). Dylan Raiola, quarterback, Nebraska: On the heels of his first profession loss, Raiola flashed indications of strength in the Huskers’ 28-10 win at Purdue on Saturday. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound passer finished 17-of-27 with 257 yards and a goal, but likewise threw 6 passes that led to pass interference calls and overcame a variety of charges that slowed Nebraska’s offense, consisting of one flag that negated Raiola’s 22-yard goal connection with Rahmir Johnson.Through his initial five college begins, Raiola is completing 70.4 %of his passes for 1,224 backyards with nine goals and only a set of interceptions. Amongst FBS quarterbacks nationally, those numbers leave him 10th in completion portion, 25th in lawns and 31st in touchdown throws. Not bad for a freshman passer and a second-year offensive coordinator in Marcus Satterfield. Raiola’s most current test comes at home Saturday against an unbeaten Rutgers secondary that ranks 36th nationally in passing yardage permitted. With a win over the Scarlet Knights (4 p.m. ET, FOX ), Raiola will have the Huskers matching their highest win total since 2016 and a triumph far from bowl eligibility. Bryant Wesco Jr., pass receiver, Clemson: Florida State’s secondary is vulnerable to chunk gains
through the air, and Bryant Wesco Jr. relatively deals only in huge plays, making the Tigers’ Saturday journey to Tallahassee an interesting one for Clemson’s first-year pass catcher.Among Wesco’s 7 catches up until now this fall, ESPN’s No. 28 general possibility in the 2024 cycle has actually logged 4 receptions of 30 or more lawns, consisting of a 76-yard touchdown grab versus Appalachian State in Week 3 and 70-yard catch versus Stanford recently. Nationally, only Tennessee’s Dont’ e Thornton Jr. is averaging more lawns per catch than Wesco( 34.0)this fall. That may spell trouble in Week 6 for a Florida State secondary that’s quiting 5 huge passing plays(15 yards or more) per game and ranks 76th in pass defense this fall.
Let’s see if Wesco and Cade Klubnik can capitalize against the 1-4 Seminoles(7 p.m. ET, ESPN). Fluff Bothwell, running back, South Alabama: We acknowledge that you might not have South Alabama’s Week
6 visit to Arkansas State circled on your calendar. However the conference between two-win Sun Belt enemies is worth tuning in to if only for the chance to see what Jaguars freshman Fluff Bothwell will do on Saturday.Bothwell was not star ranked by ESPN when he signed with South Alabama out of Oneonta( Alabama)High School. But the 5-foot-10, 219-pound rush has actually gained a foothold in Significant Applewhite’s backfield this fall and was averaging 9.7 yards per bring(37 efforts, 359 yards)with six touchdowns before South Alabama got shut down by LSU last Saturday.Bothwell exploded for 143 yards and 2 ratings on seven brings in an 87-10, Week 3 win over Northwestern State, then backed it up with 116 lawns and another two goals against a much stronger Appalachian State defense a week later. In the very same season Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty has fully burst onto the national stage, Bothwell has emerged amongst the Group of 5 running backs of the future. Expect more fireworks Saturday when he meets an Arkansas State run defense enabling 234.0 rushing yards per game this fall(130th nationally).
Wide receivers Jeremiah Smith(Ohio State) and Ryan Williams(Alabama ): We have actually spilled a lot of digital ink on these guys already this fall, however for excellent reason. Through 5 weeks, Smith and Williams are no longer appearing like just the top first-year pass receivers in 2024, but rather two of the best pass catchers anywhere across the country.Smith highlighted a five-catch, 83-yard, two-touchdown effort versus Michigan State last week with a pair of eye-popping, one-handed grabs. Amongst Huge Ten pass catchers, Smith is the only one who ranks inside the leading five in receiving backyards(364), touchdowns (5), backyards per reception (19.2)and backyards per game(91.0). When it comes to Williams, choose your favorite from his bobbling grab or the sensational spin relocation he utilized on the consent touchdown to power a six-catch, 177-yard performance in recently’s win over Georgia.
Getting in Week 6, Williams ‘15.3 backyards after catch per reception rank 4th nationally
and most among Power 5 pass catchers.Smith and Williams were impressive Saturday. The concern now: How will the set of dazzling freshmen follow it up this weekend when Smith deals with Iowa’s secondary(3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)and Williams satisfies Vanderbilt.– Eli Lederman Quotes of the week “Marcel’s sister Briah Reed is our assistant director of on-campus recruiting here at the University of Missouri, so she’s not enabled to be at practice this week. Didn’t know that until about 3 weeks earlier, when he began versus Florida. One of the staff members informed me, so undoubtedly delighted for their family. “– Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz, on learning one of his staffers is connected to Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed.” I do not understand that there’s many tickets left. They’re extremely, very delighted. The fans are, the trainee body. And I know with’GameDay’being here, it’s the most significant program, definitely in college football, and possibly the biggest programs in all of sports is’College GameDay.’So it’s great to have them on our campus, and I understand the trainee body is excited for that early Saturday early morning wake-up call.”– Cal coach Justin Wilcox”We had a good month here at home. That’s terrific for us, but you’ve got to go take it on the roadway. I tell them all the time: Excellent groups win at home, fantastic teams win on the road
. You have actually got to be able
to carry out when they’re not all cheering for you.”– Clemson coach Dabo Swinney on traveling for its very first true road game Saturday versus Florida State in Tallahassee.