Last week brought us some good top-25 matchups, but the top-10 remained perfect.
I’m not sure if #8 USC tried to give the game away at Colorado or if the Buffs figured them out. However, what was a 34-14 USC lead at halftime had Colorado almost come back, losing by just seven points after scoring 27 points in the second half.
This weekend marks the last time the Red River Shootout will be played with Oklahoma and Texas a part of the Big 12, as both teams move to the SEC next season. It should be an exciting game, which is what College Football brings us each week.
Follow along as we guide you through all the storylines, player profiles and game previews you need this College Football season. Enjoy!
College Football Primer Week 6 (Devy Fantasy Football)
Favorite Storylines
Pac-12 is Going out in Style!
With the conference realignment in full force next year, this season is the Swan Song for the Pac-12. Nothing has been confirmed, but the remaining teams who don’t have a seat when the music stops, Washington State and Oregon State, may have an opportunity to merge with the Mountain West, or the Mountain West will be absorbed by the Pac-12. USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington will move on to the Big Ten. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah travel to the Big 12, while Cal and Stanford will join the ACC in 2024.
So far this season, there are six Pac-12 teams currently ranked in the top 18 of the AP Poll. Washington comes in the highest at #7. Oregon and USC follow right behind at #8 and #9, respectively. Then Washington State, Oregon State and Utah are bunched up in the middle at #13, #15 and #18. With almost all of the non-conference play done, it will be interesting to see if one of these teams breaks free or if they will just beat up on each other. Regardless, it would be nice to see multiple Pac-12 teams in the National Championship hunt as the year progresses.
Big Ten Mosh Pit
This week, the Big Ten released its 2024 and 2025 conference schedules. With the additions of USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington, this could be the most dominant conference in college football. We already know the usual suspects in the Big Ten, like Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. But Iowa, Maryland, Rutgers, and Wisconsin are a combined 16-3 this season, so even the backend teams look dangerous.
Take USC’s conference schedule for next season as an example; they have home games against Penn State and Wisconsin and away games at Michigan, UCLA and Washington. This will feel like the College Football Playoff in September. For years, the SEC was the most dominant conference in the country, but the Big Ten will now take that title thanks to the conference realignment (and some TV money).
Player Spotlights
Quarterback
Jayden Daniels (SR – LSU) | 6-4, 210
In 2019, Jayden Daniels was the No. 1 Dual-Threat QB in the nation in front of players like Bo Nix, Sam Howell and Max Duggan. The 4-star prospect committed to Arizona State University and played his first three years there before entering the transfer portal and landing at LSU. In his first year as a starter for the Tigers, he threw for 2,900 yards and led the team to a 10-4 overall record. This season, he is off to a great start as he has 1,710 passing yards, 292 rushing yards, 19 total TDs and only two INTs. He is in the Heisman Trophy conversation, but even with his outstanding play, LSU is off to a 3-2 start. This week, LSU travels to Columbia, Mo., to take on the undefeated #21 Missouri Tigers. If LSU is going to get back on track, they need this road win badly!
Running Back
Re’Mahn “Ray” Davis (SR – Kentucky) | 5-10, 216
One thing you can say about Re’Mahn “Ray” Davis is he is well-traveled. He was not highly recruited from high school, starting his college career with the Temple Owls. He spent two years there before transferring to Vanderbilt, where he spent two more years. He transferred to Kentucky this season and is making a name for himself. His stats for his first four years are almost identical.
At Temple, he had 271 carries for 1,244 yards for a 4.6 YPC. For his time at Vanderbilt, he had 276 carries for 1,253 yards for a 4.5 YPC. This season, he is off to his best season yet. He currently has 594 rushing yards and eight TDs. He leads the SEC in rushing yards, TDs and points scored. Last week against Florida, he had 26 carries, 280 rushing yards and four total TDs. This week, Davis and the Wildcats travel to Athens to take on the #1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs. We will see if Davis can be crucial in a potential upset win.
Wide Receiver
Luther Burden (SO – Missouri) | 5-11, 208
Luther Burden was the No. 2 ranked WR in the 2022 recruiting class. After initially committing to Oklahoma, Burden stayed closer to his home in East St. Louis and enrolled with Mizzou. He is currently the top WR in the nation with 641 receiving yards. After playing scarcely last season, Burden has carved out a role as the leading receiver for the Tigers. He is currently on pace to be a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He averages 15 yards per catch and has over 114 receiving yards through the last four games.
This week, Mizzou takes on the #23 LSU Tigers at home. The LSU Tigers have the 108th-ranked passing defense in the NCAA, so Burden should have a big game. We will see if Burden and the Tigers can put a big “W” on their schedule as they try to position themselves for an SEC East title.
Tight End
Brock Bowers (JR – UGA) | 6-4, 240
If you are reading this article, you already know the name Brock Bowers. The reigning John Mackey Award winner for Best TE in the nation is on almost all award “Watch” lists this season. The All-American TE and back-to-back national champion is once again the leading receiver for the Bulldogs. He has 413 receiving yards and two TDs, including his last two games, where he had 157 and 121 receiving yards, respectively.
If you look at mock drafts, you will find Bowers as a top-10 pick in next year’s NFL Draft (Please don’t go to Atlanta). This week, UGA faces an undefeated #20 Kentucky team that has upset on their minds. Bowers must contribute, as he usually does, if #1 Georgia wants to stay #1.
Games of the Week
#12 Oklahoma vs. #3 Texas (-5.5)
The Red River Shootout happens this Saturday at the Cotton Bowl. Both teams come in undefeated and will leave for the SEC next season. Texas has had the more difficult road this season as they have had to go through #3 Alabama, Baylor and Kansas. Oklahoma has not had that rough season, as they are coming off wins over Iowa State, Cincinnati and Tulsa.
Both featured QBs have had similar passing seasons so far. Texas QB Quinn Ewers has passed for 1,358 with 10 TDs and one INT. Likewise, Oklahoma QB and UCF Transfer Dillon Gabriel has 1,593 passing yards with 15 TDs and 2 INTs.
Both teams want to replace talented RBs who went to the NFL last season. So far, Texas RB Jonathon Brooks has been doing a good job replacing Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, as he has 597 yards and five TDs. On the Oklahoma side, they are using a tandem of RBs to try to replace the 1,300 yards that Eric Gray left behind. So far, the duo of Marcus Major and Tawee Walker have just about 200 yards rushing each.
Both of these teams have top-30 defenses and top-20 offenses. This will be a proper shootout. Oklahoma has won six of the last 10 games, but Texas still holds the all-time series lead. Texas is a 5.5-point favorite going into the game, but this could be one in which whoever has the ball last wins. Both teams could run the table the rest of the way after this game, so this could be a season-breaker for someone.
#20 Kentucky vs. #1 Georgia (-14.5)
The time feels right for an upset in this game this weekend. We are so used to Georgia blowing teams away, so it is surprising this season when we have seen them struggle against lesser opponents. The #1 ranked Bulldogs are coming off a seven-point victory over Auburn, and two weeks ago, they were a 26.5-point favorite over South Carolina and won by 10. They also didn’t pull away from UAB until after halftime. On the flip side, Kentucky may not have had premiere opponents, but there has been no question about whether they would win. Both teams have similar defenses this year, with Georgia ranking No. 16 and Kentucky ranking No. 19.
Both teams are also trying to replace veteran QBs who left for the NFL. Georgia QB Carson Beck has been serviceable so far after replacing Stetson Bennett. He has 1,497 passing yards, seven TDs and two INTs. On the other side, Kentucky QB Devin Leary, the NC State transfer, has 1,129 passing yards, 10 TDs and five INTs as he replaces Will Levis.
Kentucky’s path to victory would be limiting the game-changing TE Bowers. As detailed above, he has had over 121 receiving yards in his last two games. That would force Beck to look to WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint or Missouri transfer Dominic Lovett.
If Georgia can shut down the SEC’s leading rusher, Kentucky’s RB Davis, that would force Kentucky to throw the ball to Kentucky’s leading receivers Tayvion Robinson and Barion Brown, who only average 3.8 catches per game this season. Maybe Georgia has just been baiting us on an upset, and they blow Kentucky away at home but don’t be surprised if this game is tight in the second half.
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