One of the best weeks of the year comin’ up
WAIT! There’s one more second left on the clock to read this newsletter. So, let’s look back at week one and then preview one of the best weekends of the CFB season.
Week 1 Look Back
Team that made the biggest statement - LSU - Like many, I saw this one coming. Lane Kiffin with something to prove? With THAT talented roster? Against a vulnerable opponent? In Baton Rouge’s Death Valley? Yeah, that was easy to see. But, it was the ease with which LSU handled Clemson 51-10. It could’ve been 81-7, if I’m being honest. He’s got a squad. How good? Clemson isn’t the proper gauge, but the Tigers are REALLY FREAKING good.
…and right behind them - Miami, FL - It was a conference game, over 3000 miles away from home, and the Hurricanes knocked out Stanford early in this fight 45-6. QB Darian Mensah was fabulous and WR Malachi Toney showed he might just be the nation’s best football player as a 19-year old sophomore.
Player that showed out - Auburn S Eric Winters - The Tigers 17-16 win was solidified when Winters tackled Baylor TE Matthew Klopfenstein six inches short of the goal line on a two point play late in the fourth quarter. The homegrown Auburn, AL native finished with 11 tackles, two TFL, one FF and that goal line stop for the ages.
Don’t want to forget Pitt QB Mason Heintschel who threw for 453 yards and seven TDs in a win over Miami, OH. True sophomore who lit up the Redhawks in week one.
Best Game of the Weekend - Ole Miss - 41 vs. Louisville - 38 - The first half of this game was a complete snoozefest, basically, but when the second half kicked off, it was the best 30 minutes of football I’ve seen in quite a while. Louisville QB Lincoln Kienholz and Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss put on a show and lobbed haymakers at one another throughout the steamy second half in Nashville. Chambliss and Ole MIss just had the ball last…and won.
Like the Draft? Here’s your guy that showed out - Ole Miss WR Deuce Alexander - The young man put on a show on Monday night. He topped out at 22.3 mph and flew past the Cardinals all night long. Certainly feeling Jameson Williams (Lions/Alabama) vibes after watching the Rebels speedy pass catcher torch Louisville all night long.
“John’s Crush Roster” Member i.e Player I’m still crushing on - Minnesota OG Greg Johnson - He will follow in the footsteps of current Texan/Georgia Tech OL Keylan Rutledge right into the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft. This dude is a HAMMER but he’s agile and quick too. He dominated Eastern Illinois, but if he does that against the SEC’s Mississippi State, he’ll have everyone paying attention.
Week 2 Look Ahead
Team that can make the biggest statement - The Mississippi State/Minnesota winner - When the graphic popped up Sunday night for this game on CBS, it hit me how big this game is going to be for each program. Two stud QBs. Programs with something to prove. Great venue in Minneapolis. The winner goes to 2-0 with a big win on the resume before conference play begins. LOVE this matchup.
Player(s) to Watch - Ohio State OL Austin Siereveld and Luke Montgomery - the Buckeyes ran roughshod over Ball State last weekend, but this Texas defense is mega-talented, especially in the defensive front. The last time OSU played in a BIG game, the OL got torches - it can’t happen to experienced vets at the two guard spots.
Best Game of the Weekend - It’s finally here - The Rematch, in Austin - Ohio State at Texas - This year, each team starts with a game under their belt, instead of battling through an opening slopfest. In the heat of the Texas night, it doesn’t get any better.
Like the Draft? Here’s your guy to watch - Florida RB Jadan Baugh - HUGE fan of the Gators star running back. Size. Speed. Elusiveness. Power. He’s the whole package and could vault into round one in next year’s draft, if he were to declare. Ran for 160 yards and three TDs on 14 carries against FAU.
“John’s Crush Roster” Member i.e. Players I’m crushing on to watch -
John’s Top 3 - Top WR not named Toney or Smith - Each week I’ll give a quick top 3 on any topic, and this week, it’s three WR not named Malachi Toney or Jeremiah Smith. Those two should be in the mix for the Heisman all season long, but this is one of the best groups of WR in college football history. Here are three that deserve recognition.
3. Arizona State’s Omarion Miller - easily the most slept on big-time WR in the nation. The Colorado transfer started his Arizona State career with eight catches for 102 yards and a touchdown against Morgan State. That’s just the start for Miller in the Desert.
2. Rutgers’ KJ Duff - in a losing effort, Duff went HAM on UMass - nine catches for 196 yards and THREE tuddies. He’s got venus flytraps for hands and if the ball is in his vicinity, it’s his ball.
1. Texas’ Cam Coleman - He’s so darn physically gifted and has all the tools in the world. He finished with two touchdown receptions in the opener v. Texas State in preparation for Ohio State this week.
The Big 12 Pulse - Who’s rising, who’s slipping, who to watch
The sneakiest hot names in college football heading into the 2026 season were Oklahoma State, new head coach Eric Morris and his QB Drew Mestemaker. But, a well coached and physical Tulsa team was waiting in 100 degree heat and popped that OSU balloon…loudly. The Golden Hurricanes jumped all over Mestemaker, making his debut a rough one. Many thought OSU would challenge Texas Tech for the Big 12 championship, but that performance left much to be desired.
The SEC Pulse - Who’s rising, who’s slipping, who to watch
Auburn has a ton to clean up, but its win over Baylor was a big one for Auburn’s new coach Alex Golesh. The offense was nothing short of tragic, but DC DJ Durkin’s squad kept Auburn in the game with a stellar performance. Week two in the SEC, though, is all about the Red River Rivalry crew making a statement for the conference - OU at Michigan, Texas v. Ohio State.
Top 5 to Watch - This will give you an idea of where my eyes will be this weekend
5. The Fightin’ Bob Chesneys - I love me some Bob Chesney, new head coach at UCLA, and the Bruins return to the Rose Bowl to face San Diego State after a B1G BIG win over Cal last Saturday night.
4. Cat Battle - Arizona heading to face #14 BYU in a sneaky hot early Big 12 battle. This is one of the sneakiest hot QB matchups all weekend - BYU’s Bear Bachmeier v. Arizona’s Noah Fifita
3. CyHawk Rivalry - One of the best rivalries no one mentions is Iowa State v. Iowa and they’ll lock horns in Iowa City on Saturday night.
2. Who rebounds? - Louisville played its guts out. Oklahoma State wilted in the Oklahoma heat. Georgia Tech wilted late. Clemson, embarrassingly, got run out of Baton Rouge. Baylor came up inches short, literally. Which team(s) rebound to get season win number one?
1. DKR ROCKING! - Texas v. Ohio State in prime time?!? Nothing better.