Week 0: The Appetizer Is here
Week zero feels like your favorite appetizer coming to the dinner table. It won’t completely satisfy you, but you’ve been waiting for the focaccia with burrata all year long. So, let’s get a taste of the CFB season right here.
Week 0 Superlatives
Team that can make the biggest statement - North Carolina - In Ireland, head coach Bill Belichick NEEDS to show that the Tar Heels are a competent, competitive football team against an excellent TCU team.
Player to Watch - USC QB Jayden Maiava - looking for a dark horse Heisman/2027 Draft prospect in the vein of Fernando Mendoza? It’s Maiava.
Best Game of the Weekend - NC State v. UVA - it was supposed to take place out of the country, but the week zero matchup returned to Charlottesville, one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Like the Draft? Here’s your guy to watch - FSU WR Duce Robinson - He looks like a small forward, but plays receiver, with tight end-like size. He has an interesting future at the next level for sure.
“John’s Crush Roster” Member i.e. Players I’m crushing on - TCU WR Jordan Dwyer - Gives me Lewis Bond (current Texan) vibes, but speedier and more dynamic.
John’s Top 3 - Players in the Country - Each week I’ll give a quick top 3 on any topic, this week, I’ll keep it simple, here are the best three players, regardless of position in college football. They won’t all be playing on Saturday, but soon enough.
3. Miami, FL WR/RB/All-Purpose Malachi Toney - put the ball in his hands and let’s GO!
2. Notre Dame CB Leonard Moore - epitomizes the words “lock down corner”
1 Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith - probably could’ve been drafted out of high school, but he has gotten even better in his three years on campus.
The Big 12 Pulse - Who’s rising, who’s slipping, who to watch
There’s only one Big 12 team in action on Saturday and the TCU Horned Frogs will be led by a former Ivy League Player of the Year - QB Jaden Craig. The former Harvard star made all kinds of waves in fall camp and it’ll be fun to watch him work against North Carolina and not Brown or Yale.
The SEC Pulse - Who’s rising, who’s slipping, who to watch
The SEC won’t kick it off until next Thursday when Missouri takes on Arkansas-Pine Bluff. In that SEC opener, the question for Mizzou will be whether All-World RB Ahmad Hardy will be back in full. He was shot this offseason, but has made a strong recovery. With Hardy and Jamal Roberts as the 1-2 punch in Columbia, the Tigers could have the best running game in the nation.
Top 5 to Watch - This will give you an idea of where my eyes will be this Saturday
5. NC State QB CJ Bailey - uber-talented QB with some experience under his belt to do great things in Raleigh in 2026. Facing Virginia in Charlottesville will be one heck of a tough way to start the season.
4. Football in Ireland - It’s not Ypsilanti or Fargo, but football in Ireland has become a thing and a thing that should stay as North Carolina takes on TCU in Dublin on Saturday morning.
3. The Tavita Pritchard era begins - Stanford football has Andrew Luck as GM and now new head coach Tavita Pritchard, the man Luck replaced as QB at Stanford over a decade ago. These two have a major challenge to resuscitate Stanford football…and can’t lose again to Hawai’i to start the season like last year.
2. The Jackson Arnold Show in Vegas - The former 5-star can’t miss high school star hasn’t found a home to his liking…yet. Perhaps with Dan Mullen leading the way, though, Arnold can benefit out in the Desert. To get off to a great start, Arnold must handle a gritty Memphis squad on Saturday night.
1. Year Two of Belichick - Some think it might be the last one if it doesn’t start well in Ireland and the Horned Frogs destroyed Bill Belichick’s Heels in the opener in Chapel Hill last year.