SWC75
Bored Historian
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Friday October 4th 9PM Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas, Nevada vs. Nevada-Las Vegas
TV: Fox Sports 1
When SU fans heard about this game they viewed it as a fun trip to Las Vegas with the football game being in the background and a likely walk-over. After all, UNLV is a basketball school. Not so fast, my friend! The Rebels were 9-5 last year, losing the Mountain West title game to Boise State, 21-44, and the ‘Guaranteed Rate’ Bowl, (I hope they got their guarantee) to Kansas, 36-49, after a 9-3 regular season. Their losses were to Michigan 7-35, Fresno State 24-31 and San Jose State 31-37. That means they averaged scoring 24 points in their losses, (28 if the team was not Michigan), so expect an old-fashioned western shoot-out. We’d better be ready for it.
The Rebels averaged 35 points a game overall last year but lost their star QB Jayden Maiava to USC. Coach Barry Odom, having been poached, then poached two star quarterbacks from FCS teams: Hajj-Malik Williams of Campbell University in North Carolina and, drum roll – Matthew Sluka of Holy Cross, who we may thus wind up facing anyway. Williams passed for 2,604 yards and 19 scores last year. Sluka passed for 1,723 yards and 20TDs while running for 1,243 yards, (I kid you not) and 9 more scores. Top receiver Ricky White III is back with 88 catches last year for 1,438 yards 8TDs. Jacob DeJesus had 60/606/2. Jai'Den Thomas ran for 503 yards (4.7) and 12 TDs. UNLV OC Brennan Marion runs a “go-go” offense. Scarlet is the new fast!
Lindy’s says UNLV had a “high risk/high reward” defense: they gave up 29 points a game but they also forced 27 turnovers and were +8 on the season. They rely heavily on transfers. Arkansas transfer Jackson Woodward was their leading tackler, (116), from his linebacker position. Next to him is Marcel McDuffie with 91 tackles. DB Jonathan Baldwin had 77 and Cameron Oliver had 5 interceptions. Odom wants to increase size and athleticism, (who doesn’t?), and brought in three defensive back transfers: another Razorback, Malik Chavis, Jah’Von Grigsby and Tony Grimes from…Texas A&M, where he’d been a 5 star recruit and is listed by Lindy’s as their “best newcomer”.
It's a small world after all…
The Rebels are excellent on special teams. Punter Marshall Nichols popped a whopping 47.1 yards per punt and DeJesus averaged 16.1 yards returning punts and 25.7 yards per kickoff.
Scoring 34.4 #22 vs. 28.6 #86
Rushing 173.5 #43 vs. 161.8 #89
Passing 239.2 #55 vs. 253.7 #111
Total 412.7 #42 vs. 415.5 #103
Turnover margin: +8 #17
Saturday October 12th Time: TBA Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC vs. North Carolina St. TV: TBA
SU fans have been congratulating themselves that we won’t have to play Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame or Louisville this season. That doesn’t mean we have a weak schedule. NC State is expected to have one of their best teams, (and they have quite a history against us, (3-13: we seem to play against their best teams: only two the ones we’ve played had losing records – and we lost to them anyway).
They were 9-4 last year and beat Clemson, 14-10 and won their last five regular season games. Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall, who had an amazing TD to interception ratio of 88-14, passing for 10,005 yards and running for 1,113 while scoring 18TDs on his own. “That kid is a born leader, a true gamer.” (An opposing coach in Athlon.) He has a good group of receivers to throw to. Kevin ‘KC’ Concepcion was ACC rookie of the year. He’ll be joined by Ohio State transfer Noah Rogers and Wake Forest transfer Wesley Grimes Duke transfer Jordan Waters to run the ball. Concepcion caught 71 balls for 839 yards and 10 scores. Rogers, a 4-star has yet to play but Grimes caught 20 balls for 339 yards, (17.1) and 4 scores. Waters ran for 1,690 yards, (5.2) and 23 scores for the Blue Devils in 4+ seasons. Left tackle Anthony Belton is “massive and he can punish defenders.” (Lindy’s)
The Wolfpack was strong on defense last year. They lost linebacker Payton Wilson, who is now a Pittsburgh Steeler. Fellow Linebacker Caden Fordham is expected to step up in his absence. End Davin Vann “knows how to create disruption in the offensive line and he has some good company up front.” (Lindy’s). The secondary had 17 interceptions last year, most in the ACC.
Punter Caden Noon Kester averaged 42.6 yards per punt. He put 25 of them within the 20 yards line and boomed 11 more than 50 yards. They are looking for a new placekicker.
Scoring 26.1 #74 vs. 20.8 #24
Rushing 156.5 #66 vs. 116.5 #23
Passing 193.9 #100 vs. 215.6 #52
Total 350.4 #91 vs. 332.1 #29
Turnover margin: +9 #13
Bye week
Thursday October 24th 7:30PM Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa vs. Pittsburgh
TV: ESPN
The Panthers are another nemesis of ours, at least in this century. Since 2002, we are 4-18 against them. We caught them by surprise with the ‘wildcat’ offense last year after Shrader was hurt. They are normal a stout defensive team with a physical running game. We outrushed them 392-60 and beat them 28-13. We won’t be doing that, (barring QB injuries: Michael Johnson might be good in a wildcat) and won’t surprise them this season. But Pitt really wasn’t very good last year: they went 3-9, their worst record in 25 years. They just weren’t a Pat Narduzzi team.
This one might not be one, either. Pat brought in Kade Bell, the OC from Western Carolina, where they averaged 37.5ppg, compared to 20.2 for Pitt. That team was a passing team, averaging 321 yards per game. That’s not classic Narduzzi. They need a big-time QB to match those numbers. Nate Yarnell started the last two games last year, completing 41 of 62 (66.1%) for 595 yards, 4TDs and one interception. He averaged 9.8 yards per attempt and 14.5 per competition, both excellent. But that was just two games at the end of a bad season. Narduzzi also brought in two other Catamounts : wideout Censere Lee who caught 82 passes for 1,426 yards, (17.4) and 14TDs in two years and running back Desmond Reid who rushed for 1,732 yards and 17TDs in the same two season. But can these Catamounts perform at that level in the ACC?
The defense has only two returning starters. Kansas State transfer Nate Matlack and brought 16TFLs and 9.5 sacks in 39 games, 7 starts) with him. Reserve linebacker Brandon George (49 tackles) will lead that unit. Rasheen Biles blocked three punts last season, so watch out for him.
Ben Sauls hit 11 of 13 field goals inside the 50 but missed all three from 50+. Caleb Junko averaged 41.6 per punt.
I’ve waited for years for Cuse to turn this series back in our favor, (we were 16-1-1 from 1984-2001). This is a chance to beat them a second year in a row for the first time since then.
Scoring 20.2 #114 vs. 27.3 #73
Rushing 101.9 #120 vs. 150.2 #66
Passing 216.0 #75 vs. 211.4 #42
Total 317.9 #114 vs. 361.6 #49
Turnover margin: -5 #101
Last year, October killed our season. After starting 4-0, we played Clemson on September 30th and lost a competitive game 14-31. Then we went into the emat grinder and got clobbered by North Carolina (7-40), Florida State, (3-41) and Virginia Tech 10-38). It punched a huge hole in our season and started the clock ticking on the Dino Babers Era. This October seems less intimidating but all three games are on the road. And then comes November. If we could clinch a bowl game by the end of October, it could set us up for the season people are hoping for.
TV: Fox Sports 1
When SU fans heard about this game they viewed it as a fun trip to Las Vegas with the football game being in the background and a likely walk-over. After all, UNLV is a basketball school. Not so fast, my friend! The Rebels were 9-5 last year, losing the Mountain West title game to Boise State, 21-44, and the ‘Guaranteed Rate’ Bowl, (I hope they got their guarantee) to Kansas, 36-49, after a 9-3 regular season. Their losses were to Michigan 7-35, Fresno State 24-31 and San Jose State 31-37. That means they averaged scoring 24 points in their losses, (28 if the team was not Michigan), so expect an old-fashioned western shoot-out. We’d better be ready for it.
The Rebels averaged 35 points a game overall last year but lost their star QB Jayden Maiava to USC. Coach Barry Odom, having been poached, then poached two star quarterbacks from FCS teams: Hajj-Malik Williams of Campbell University in North Carolina and, drum roll – Matthew Sluka of Holy Cross, who we may thus wind up facing anyway. Williams passed for 2,604 yards and 19 scores last year. Sluka passed for 1,723 yards and 20TDs while running for 1,243 yards, (I kid you not) and 9 more scores. Top receiver Ricky White III is back with 88 catches last year for 1,438 yards 8TDs. Jacob DeJesus had 60/606/2. Jai'Den Thomas ran for 503 yards (4.7) and 12 TDs. UNLV OC Brennan Marion runs a “go-go” offense. Scarlet is the new fast!
Lindy’s says UNLV had a “high risk/high reward” defense: they gave up 29 points a game but they also forced 27 turnovers and were +8 on the season. They rely heavily on transfers. Arkansas transfer Jackson Woodward was their leading tackler, (116), from his linebacker position. Next to him is Marcel McDuffie with 91 tackles. DB Jonathan Baldwin had 77 and Cameron Oliver had 5 interceptions. Odom wants to increase size and athleticism, (who doesn’t?), and brought in three defensive back transfers: another Razorback, Malik Chavis, Jah’Von Grigsby and Tony Grimes from…Texas A&M, where he’d been a 5 star recruit and is listed by Lindy’s as their “best newcomer”.
It's a small world after all…
The Rebels are excellent on special teams. Punter Marshall Nichols popped a whopping 47.1 yards per punt and DeJesus averaged 16.1 yards returning punts and 25.7 yards per kickoff.
Scoring 34.4 #22 vs. 28.6 #86
Rushing 173.5 #43 vs. 161.8 #89
Passing 239.2 #55 vs. 253.7 #111
Total 412.7 #42 vs. 415.5 #103
Turnover margin: +8 #17
Saturday October 12th Time: TBA Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC vs. North Carolina St. TV: TBA
SU fans have been congratulating themselves that we won’t have to play Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame or Louisville this season. That doesn’t mean we have a weak schedule. NC State is expected to have one of their best teams, (and they have quite a history against us, (3-13: we seem to play against their best teams: only two the ones we’ve played had losing records – and we lost to them anyway).
They were 9-4 last year and beat Clemson, 14-10 and won their last five regular season games. Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall, who had an amazing TD to interception ratio of 88-14, passing for 10,005 yards and running for 1,113 while scoring 18TDs on his own. “That kid is a born leader, a true gamer.” (An opposing coach in Athlon.) He has a good group of receivers to throw to. Kevin ‘KC’ Concepcion was ACC rookie of the year. He’ll be joined by Ohio State transfer Noah Rogers and Wake Forest transfer Wesley Grimes Duke transfer Jordan Waters to run the ball. Concepcion caught 71 balls for 839 yards and 10 scores. Rogers, a 4-star has yet to play but Grimes caught 20 balls for 339 yards, (17.1) and 4 scores. Waters ran for 1,690 yards, (5.2) and 23 scores for the Blue Devils in 4+ seasons. Left tackle Anthony Belton is “massive and he can punish defenders.” (Lindy’s)
The Wolfpack was strong on defense last year. They lost linebacker Payton Wilson, who is now a Pittsburgh Steeler. Fellow Linebacker Caden Fordham is expected to step up in his absence. End Davin Vann “knows how to create disruption in the offensive line and he has some good company up front.” (Lindy’s). The secondary had 17 interceptions last year, most in the ACC.
Punter Caden Noon Kester averaged 42.6 yards per punt. He put 25 of them within the 20 yards line and boomed 11 more than 50 yards. They are looking for a new placekicker.
Scoring 26.1 #74 vs. 20.8 #24
Rushing 156.5 #66 vs. 116.5 #23
Passing 193.9 #100 vs. 215.6 #52
Total 350.4 #91 vs. 332.1 #29
Turnover margin: +9 #13
Bye week
Thursday October 24th 7:30PM Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa vs. Pittsburgh
TV: ESPN
The Panthers are another nemesis of ours, at least in this century. Since 2002, we are 4-18 against them. We caught them by surprise with the ‘wildcat’ offense last year after Shrader was hurt. They are normal a stout defensive team with a physical running game. We outrushed them 392-60 and beat them 28-13. We won’t be doing that, (barring QB injuries: Michael Johnson might be good in a wildcat) and won’t surprise them this season. But Pitt really wasn’t very good last year: they went 3-9, their worst record in 25 years. They just weren’t a Pat Narduzzi team.
This one might not be one, either. Pat brought in Kade Bell, the OC from Western Carolina, where they averaged 37.5ppg, compared to 20.2 for Pitt. That team was a passing team, averaging 321 yards per game. That’s not classic Narduzzi. They need a big-time QB to match those numbers. Nate Yarnell started the last two games last year, completing 41 of 62 (66.1%) for 595 yards, 4TDs and one interception. He averaged 9.8 yards per attempt and 14.5 per competition, both excellent. But that was just two games at the end of a bad season. Narduzzi also brought in two other Catamounts : wideout Censere Lee who caught 82 passes for 1,426 yards, (17.4) and 14TDs in two years and running back Desmond Reid who rushed for 1,732 yards and 17TDs in the same two season. But can these Catamounts perform at that level in the ACC?
The defense has only two returning starters. Kansas State transfer Nate Matlack and brought 16TFLs and 9.5 sacks in 39 games, 7 starts) with him. Reserve linebacker Brandon George (49 tackles) will lead that unit. Rasheen Biles blocked three punts last season, so watch out for him.
Ben Sauls hit 11 of 13 field goals inside the 50 but missed all three from 50+. Caleb Junko averaged 41.6 per punt.
I’ve waited for years for Cuse to turn this series back in our favor, (we were 16-1-1 from 1984-2001). This is a chance to beat them a second year in a row for the first time since then.
Scoring 20.2 #114 vs. 27.3 #73
Rushing 101.9 #120 vs. 150.2 #66
Passing 216.0 #75 vs. 211.4 #42
Total 317.9 #114 vs. 361.6 #49
Turnover margin: -5 #101
Last year, October killed our season. After starting 4-0, we played Clemson on September 30th and lost a competitive game 14-31. Then we went into the emat grinder and got clobbered by North Carolina (7-40), Florida State, (3-41) and Virginia Tech 10-38). It punched a huge hole in our season and started the clock ticking on the Dino Babers Era. This October seems less intimidating but all three games are on the road. And then comes November. If we could clinch a bowl game by the end of October, it could set us up for the season people are hoping for.
