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6 lessons learned from NCAA football over the weekend

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Of course, there was Week 0 last end of the week, yet the game truly returned this end of the week with Week 1.

Throughout the course of recent days — Thursday through Saturday — 83 games highlighting no less than one FBS program were played, with three additional games to be played today and a solitary game scheduled for Monday.

Also, as usual — when you move away from gathering realignment and media privileges bargains — the game didn’t frustrate.

There were significant bombshells, barnburners and no lack of victories. Currently a few projects seem to be shoe-ins to battle for the public title, while others give off an impression of being finished and complete dumpster fires. Hot wet trash being another relevant descriptor.

Groups from Utah — at both the FBS and FCS levels — joined to go 3-2 in general, however there are clearly those in each fanbase that accept theirs is the main in-state group that ought to have been won. This weekend and forever.

According to Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel, a total of 3.8 million people watched Utah’s 24-11 win over Florida on Thursday night.

Those numbers were made even more great by the way that a lot of Focal Florida and different pieces of the nation can’t watch ESPN by any stretch of the imagination at the present time, given a continuous debate between The Walt Disney Organization and the link organization Sanction Range.

The fans that got to watch saw the Utes handle the Gators, all while being without eight starters, the greater part of whom play at pretty significant positions, similar to quarterback, cautious tackle and focus.

Utah was flawed using any and all means. Outside of the first series, the offense was pretty inconsistent, and the Utes’ rushing attack never really developed beyond a few QB runs by Nate Johnson.

Protectively, the Utes were strong front and center — which was noteworthy given who was missing — truly strong at linebacker and security and needing some improvement along the outside.

The Gators moved the ball against the Utes, but Florida made a lot of ill-timed mistakes because of timely plays, a loud crowd, and mental lapses.

Utah was supposed to battle for the Pac-12 title again this year, and possibly a spot in the School Football Season finisher, and after the success over the Gators those assumptions feel fair.

Yes, Utah clearly has areas of improvement, and no, the Gators did not appear to be in their best form. Be that as it may, in the wake of dominating at least nine matches in seven of the last eight seasons — yes we are overlooking the 2020 season — the Utes merit the opportunity to be vindicated. What’s more, a persuading prevail upon a Power Five rival, a skilled Florida group no less, just approves the elevated requirements.

We should begin here. BYU is 1-0 to start the season. The protection under new facilitator Jay Slope looked great, with playmakers arising on edge line and in the optional (it has been for a spell since that could be said about a Cougar guard).

Likewise, BYU wasn’t one of the Power Five groups upset Week 1 by an apparent lesser rival. Additionally, the Cougars joined Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF in winning their first Big 12 Conference games.

Yet, … the Cougars were somewhat of a given down Saturday night access their 14-0 win over Sam Houston State.

Nobody ought to have entered the season anticipating that BYU should be first class. The Cougars’ first year in a P5 conference should be considered a win if they qualify for the bowl. Also, nobody ought to have criticized Sam Houston, as FCS groups have demonstrated risky while making the progress to the FBS level (recollect James Madison last season).

BYU should play better going ahead, however, especially on offense, or it will be a long season.

The hostile strategy/play calling/execution was harsh, depending an extraordinary arrangement on quarterback Kedon Slovis, when it turned out to be promptly clear that Cougars have numerous proficient running backs in LJ Martin and Aidan Robbins.

Obviously, the Cougars’ hostile line battled powerfully, which made any kind of genuine hostile assault an off limits.

There likewise appeared to be to some degree an obsession with getting the ball to tight end Isaac Rex, which is fine, he’s a decent player, yet in addition he isn’t Travis Kelce or George Kittle.

Is BYU the most horrendously awful group in the Large 12? Presumably not. Are the Cougars going to be a tricky competitor in the meeting? Once more, presumably not.

Utah State lost to Iowa on Saturday, 24-14. That didn’t surprise me in and of itself. The Hawkeyes were a main 25 positioned group from the Enormous Ten, while the Aggies were picked to complete eighth in the Mountain West Meeting.

But, the Aggies were equivalent to the test for a significant part of the game. In terms of total offense, USU outgained Iowa and was more dynamic on defense (through tackles for loss, sacks, and close calls).

Notwithstanding a hopeless first quarter, when the Aggies were obviously awed by the stage, and a few natural and badly planned punishments, Utah State might have vexed Iowa. The chance was genuine.

However, those not well coordinated punishments are not another thing.

Against Iowa, Utah State had 10 punishments for 75 yards. Punishments lead trainer Blake Anderson weeped over different times a while later. After Week 1, Utah State is positioned No. 115 in the country in least punishments per game and negative. 116 is the nation’s lowest average number of penalty yards per game.

It is multi week, you say. The principal seven day stretch of the time. Yes, but this is also pretty typical for a team coached by Anderson.

In 2022, Utah State was positioned No. 129 in the country in least punishments per game, averaging 8.5 per challenge. Additionally, the Aggies ranked No. 130 in least punishment yards per game, at 77 yards for every game.

Indeed, even in 2021, when the Aggies had their fantasy season and won the MW, they positioned No. 69 (six punishments a game) and negative. 75 in the country in least punishments and least punishment yards per game.

Utah State has ability. That was demonstrated by the Aggies against the Hawkeyes, which, as a side note, is remarkable in light of the roster cuts that occurred during the offseason. In any case, become accustomed to seeing a great deal of punishments. Furthermore, whether Utah State is fruitful this season will come down to whether the group can to some degree limit its miscues, and defeat the rest.

The coaching debut of Deion Sanders with Colorado was nothing short of electrifying, entertaining, and unexpected.

With quarterback Shedeur Sanders and wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, the Buffaloes may actually have two Heisman Trophy contenders on the team. They also have arguably the best receiving corps in the country.

The 45-42 success at TCU was downright tremendous and you can hope to hear a great deal about Colorado throughout the following week. Furthermore, the week later on the off chance that the Buffs can overcome Nebraska (Cornhuskers fan are clearly expecting to end the scourge of Scott Ice against Colorado, the group against which every one of the late game disappointments started).

However, we must stop assuming that teams are superior to one another. In this example we are discussing TCU, not Colorado.

The Horned Frogs played for the public title last year, however everybody realized they wouldn’t have been near a similar group this season. Their No. 17 positioning was to a great extent granted keeping in mind what they did in 2022, not for what the group has all the earmarks of being in 2023.

TCU doesn’t reload like Georgia, Ohio State or Alabama. Furthermore, TCU lost a ton on offense from last season — including their hostile facilitator — which really make the 42 focuses they set facing Colorado presumably more demonstrative of how unfortunate Colorado’s safeguard is.

TCU won’t be winning the Enormous 12 this season. They won’t win ten games again, either. Since joining the Enormous 12, the Horned Frogs have dominated at least 10 matches in sequential years only once, in 2014 and 2015.

Also, lead trainer Sonny Dams has never dominated at least 10 matches in sequential seasons in his training profession.

So, yes, Colorado’s victory was thrilling. In any case, so were Wyoming’s over Texas Tech and Fresno State’s over Purdue. What’s more, TCU’s not all that great.

Regarding Wyoming and Fresno State, those two MW programs were the catalysts for two of the most notable upsets of Power Five programs by Group of Five programs over the weekend.

The Cattle rustlers brought down Texas Tech in twofold additional time, while the Bulldogs overturned the Boilermakers.

The two successes were outstanding for the MWC explicitly, particularly after Boise State was destroyed by Washington and San Diego State battled powerfully with Idaho State, yet that isn’t what we are referring to here.

Promptly following the misfortunes by Texas Tech and Purdue, a large part of the clamor/conversation wasn’t, ‘Goodness look, disturbs are fun,’ yet rather, ‘Why for heaven’s sake did Texas Tech and Purdue plan those games in any case?’ Especially Texas Tech going to Laramie, Wyoming.

What’s more, the equivalent could be said to describe conversations encompassing Baylor-Texas State — likely the most stunning upset of the end of the week — Northern Illinois-Boston School, Illinois-Toledo (Illinois won yet it was a two-point game) and Houston-UTSA (another P5 triumph, scarcely).

The opinion is reasonable. A misfortune to a G5 group can be extremely harming to a fighting P5 program.

In any case, any misfortune is harming to a fighting P5 program. What’s more, none of the groups that were vexed or almost agitated about apparent lesser adversaries Week 1 are CFP competitors.

It sucks when your group is disturbed, or loses a game, yet disturbs are darling in American games. But in school football for reasons unknown. Basically for a noisy subset of fans.

Beyond major, surprising bombshells, there truly isn’t anything more engaging in that frame of mind than a significant matchup between Top 25 rivals.

That is the explanation gathering realignment has pushed the game nearer to super meetings. Fans — fanatics and casuals — love big time name brand matchups.

Week 1 didn’t have a lot, be that as it may.

No. 5 LSU and negative. 8 Florida State play Sunday night, in clash of top 10 ten groups, however that is all there is to it. That is the positioned matchup this week.

Presently, many groups merit recognition for booking rivals who might have been positioned. Utah and Florida for example. Virginia and Tennessee. North Carolina and South Carolina. The rundown could proceed.

What’s more, FCS programs needs games against FBS ones. Many can’t help contradicting that thought, yet at the same not here. Also, disturbs possibly happen when enormous schools plays less renowned ones in any case.

However, the timing of top-tier games needs to be better balanced. Greater adaptability in planning. Furthermore, more guideline of timetables by gatherings.

That would forestall games like Georgia-UT Martin, Alabama-Center Tennessee, USC-Nevada, Texas-Rice, Oregon-Portland State, Oklahoma-Arkansas State, Ole Miss-Mercer, Texas A&M-New Mexico, Notre Woman Tennessee State from all being played that very end of the week.

Each of those games ended in blowouts, and the teams won by a total of 403 points.

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Dodgers Unveil Plans for Friday Parade and Stadium Celebration

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The Dodgers announced Wednesday night that they would celebrate their World Series victory on Friday with a parade in Downtown Los Angeles and a special ticketed event at Dodger Stadium. The full broadcast of both tournaments will be available on AM 570, local television stations, and Spectrum SportsNet LA. Fans will not be able to attend both events due to scheduling conflicts, transportation, and logistical issues.

The parade will start at Gloria Molina Grand Park on Spring Street in front of City Hall at 11 a.m. PT. The procession will begin with an official kickoff by Mayor Karen Bass and go for 45 minutes from 1st Street to Grand Avenue to 5th Street, ending at the corner of 5th and Flower Street. Dodgers players will ride double-decker buses during the parade. Due to extensive street closures and a shortage of public parking, those who desire to join the parade are strongly recommended to use public transportation.

At around 12:15 p.m., a special ticketed event at Dodger Stadium will start after the procession. The stadium’s entrance gates will open at 9 a.m., and parking gates for attendees will open at 8:30 a.m. There will be food and merchandise for sale. Before the team arrives, there will be entertainment inside the stadium, including DodgerVision scoreboards that will show the parade. This event will be subject to all Dodger Stadium policies and procedures, including the reminder that signs, bags, and other objects that are prohibited by our policies are not allowed.

At 9:30 a.m., SportsNet LA and local networks CBS 2, NBC 4, KTLA 5, ABC 7, KCAL 9, and Fox 11 will start airing coverage of every event on Friday. On AM 570, there will be radio coverage.

The Los Angeles Dodger Foundation, which is working to address the most important issues confronting Los Angeles with a mission to enhance social justice, health care, education, and homelessness for all Angelenos, will get a part of the stadium event’s earnings.

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Tuten Leads the Hokies with 4 Touchdowns and 266 Running Yards in a Blowout Victory

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Thursday night, Virginia Tech defeated Boston College 42–21 thanks to a school record 266 yards and four touchdowns from Bhayshul Tuten.

For the Hokies (4-3, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who scored touchdowns on their first three possessions and never trailed en way to a second straight victory, Kyron Drones added two rushing scores and a touchdown pass.

Tuten completed 18 carries while also scoring on 83 and 61-yard touchdown runs, the latter of which came with 8:28 remaining to win the game. And he caught a touchdown pass from Drones that was 20 yards in length.

Tuten declared, “Every game is a special game.” “That’s how I look at it. I just felt a little better today. We had a bye week. I felt great throughout practice. I took the knee brace off (for a sore knee). I felt fast, I felt good, I felt fluid. I just came out and balled today, and that’s what we needed.”

After trailing 28-0 at the half, Boston College (4-3, 1-2 ACC) got within 28-21 on a 5-yard run by Kye Robichaux with 2:55 remaining in the third quarter, and they were on the drive early in the fourth. However, Robichaux was stopped on a fourth-and-1 at midfield, and Virginia Tech took advantage of the next play. With 11:02 remaining, Tuten scored on a 6-yard run to give Virginia Tech a 35-21 lead.

“That’s a good team that we beat tonight,” stated Brent Pry, the coach of Virginia Tech. “And we beat them soundly.”

With his 266 rushing yards, Tuten eclipsed the previous school record of 253 established by Darren Evans in 2008 versus Maryland. After removing Tuten from the game because of his proximity to the record, the Virginia Tech coaching staff decided to put him back in to break it. During the Hokies’ last drive, Tuten set the record with a 17-yard run.

“I normally don’t like that, but a school record at a place like Tech with so many great running backs, and he was deserving with his performance,” Pry stated.

Drones completed 14 of 18 passes for 164 yards and ran for 40 yards. Drones scored on runs of 11 yards and 1 yard on the Hokies’ opening two possessions. The Hokies finished with a season-high 533 yards, trailing just Tuten and Drones.

The Eagles finished with 372 yards, led by Thomas Castellanos, who passed for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

“I felt really good about the preparation for the game,” Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien remarked. “Obviously, I was wrong. We’ve got to prepare differently, better, whatever it might be. We’ve got to figure it out. … We’ve got to coach better. We’ve got a good coaching staff. We do. We have a lot of experience. But we didn’t play well tonight, so that’s on the coaching. We’ve got to coach better and hopefully we’ll get it turned around.”

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Shohei Ohtani Gets Standing Ovation After Achieving 50-50 Milestone, Then Hits 52-52

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After securing the first 50-50 season in MLB history on Friday, Shohei Ohtani made a triumphant homecoming to Dodger Stadium. He continued doing what he does best after that.

The Los Angeles Dodgers player began the 52-52 club with a home run and a steal against the Colorado Rockies, after the teams reached 50-50 and 51-51 in the same game. In the fifth inning, Ohtani faced Rockies starter Kyle Freeland. He worked the count full before taking a pitch at his armpits to deep center field.

Few batters possess the ability to hit a pitch that high and blast it 423 feet in the opposite direction.

After a double and a single two innings later, Ohtani advanced to second base on Mookie Betts’ first pitch.

Ohtani broke Rickey Henderson’s record of 13 home runs in a single game set in 1986 by recording both a stolen base and a home run for the 14th time this season.

After going 9 for 10 with four home runs, two doubles, three steals, six runs, and 12 RBI in his last two games, Ohtani is now one home run behind Aaron Judge for the MLB lead. The majority of that output occurred on Thursday night against the Marlins, when Ohtani not only reached 50-50 with style, but he also had one of the best offensive outings in MLB history.

Ohtani combined an incredible season-long feat with the 16th 10-RBI game in MLB history in the same game that he hit his 49th, 50th, and 51st home runs of the year and stole his 50th and 51st bases. In addition, it was the first three-homer, two-steal game in MLB history, all on the anniversary of Ohtani’s unbelievable—that he didn’t have Tommy John surgery—on September 19, 2023.

The only downside of that magical night was that it happened on the road. Still, Ohtani received a curtain call at LoanDepot Park in Miami. Dodgers fans made an effort to show their support by giving him a standing ovation before his first at-bat on Friday, which earned him a wave in return.

Though it’s unclear how far into untested terrain Ohtani can go in homers and steals, he may have reached 50-50.

In addition, there’s the playoff issue. With eight games remaining, the 92-62 Dodgers have a four-game lead over the San Diego Padres for the NL West championship. They also secured their spot in the playoffs on Thursday. They’ll need to get beyond a string of pitching injuries if they hope to give Ohtani a ring, regardless of where they finish in his debut postseason.

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