10 takeaways from an upset-heavy day of college football craziness | 2018-09-23 09:14:38 (Visits: 536 Times) |  | | One season after The Year of The Quarterback in college football, the 2018 season began with a muddled quarterback class. There were solid players like Missouri’s Drew Lock, West Virginia’s Will Grier, North Carolina State’s Ryan Finley, Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham and Oregon’s Justin Herbert. But no superstars that threatened a class that saw five first-round picks in the 2018 NFL draft.
One-third of the way through this college football season, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the country’s best two quarterbacks may be two first-year starters. Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins have beelined to the top of the 2018 quarterback class in college football, keeping their teams entrenched in the top five and wondering if anyone in their respective leagues can slow them down.
Tagovailoa passed for 387 yards while playing just three quarters in Alabama’s 45-23 blowout of Texas A&M on Saturday. Tagovailoa completed 22-of-30 passes for the Crimson Tide, as they cruised to a victory over the Aggies.
The consistent downfield pass threat for the Crimson Tide has given the offense the look of evolving into the most lethal in Saban’s tenure. Not only can Tua hit deep threats like Jerry Jeudy, but he’s proven adept at the intrinsic quarterback nuances like throwing the ball away, extending drives and not making mistakes. He’s completed 72.5 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns and no interceptions. Imagine when he gets to actually play a full game.
Haskins has been even better for Ohio State. When the Buckeyes signed Haskins three years ago, Urban Meyer said, “He’s the best quarterback at his age I’ve ever seen.” The quote got lost in the typical Signing Day shuffle, but it’s beginning to appear prophetic. Haskins finished 21-of-24 in two quarters against Tulane, throwing five touchdown passes and no interceptions. For the season, he’s thrown 16 touchdowns, one interception and completed 75 percent of his passes. For Haskins to continue to get Heisman Trophy and NFL buzz, he’ll have to perform in a truly hostile environment at Penn State on Saturday night. “Game five coming up,” Meyer said. “This one is a big one coming up, so I’m pleased with his performance.”
If Tagovailoa and Haskins keep this pace up, don’t be surprised if they’re seated next to each other in New York in December as Heisman finalists.
2. When the debate comes down to Duke, Syracuse and NC State, it’s usually a sign that basketball season is on the way. But in the ACC this year, there’s a theoretical debate on who could be a foil to Clemson in the beleaguered league: Who is No. 2 in the ACC?
Not Boston College. They laid a big enough egg to supply all of Boston with Sunday omelets, getting suffocated at previously winless Purdue, 30-13, on Saturday. Virginia Tech found itself on the business end of the biggest upset in college football this year, as ODU stunned the No. 10 Hokies, 49-35, on Saturday. Cross those two schools off the list.
The usual suspects are unusually bad this year. Florida State, even after a win against Northern Illinois, is still tracking historical infamy. Miami is still filled with unknowns, including at quarterback after Mark Richt finally appears to have replaced Malik Rosier with N’Kosi Perry, who starred (17-for-25 for 224 passing yards) in a victory over FIU. Louisville is completely inept on offense, which we cover in more detail later.
The only undefeated teams left in the league are Clemson, Duke, Syracuse and NC State. The Blue Devils thumped Northwestern on the road and have wins over Army and Baylor. Syracuse blasted Florida State at home, but still appear vulnerable defensively. NC State didn’t appear to lose a step after their game against West Virginia was canceled last week. State’s defense is still thought to be vulnerable, but it held up just fine in a 37-20 win at Marshall on Saturday.
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