ESPN Plus Wrapping Up Week 1

[Rebel1986]

I noticed that they had UNLV listed at the end of the wrapping up week 1 title and was curious what they said about UNLV? I do not have ESPN plus, but understand if someone wants to keep it top secret!

 

[LocoRebel]

​

UNLV is going to the CFP​

UNLV 27, Houston 7

Last week, I took a look at the race for the Group of 5's automatic CFP bid, listing the top 10 teams per preseason SP+ projections, plus five high-upside dark horses. Because of an iffy 2023 defense, UNLV was listed merely in the dark horses category. But if the defense we saw Saturday in Houston sticks around for a while, the Rebels will quickly move to the top of the power ratings.

In what seemed it could be an even affair, UNLV outgained Houston 242-59 while building a 14-0 halftime lead, then stretched the lead to 24-0 on Texas transfer Jalen Catalon's 36-yard pick-six in the third quarter. A late, 90-yard drive finally put Houston on the board, but this one was over early.

Holy Cross transfer QB Matthew Sluka had a hit-and-miss debut for UNLV, going just 6-for-13 passing for 71 yards and an interception, but he threw two early touchdown passes to Jacob De Jesus and rushed for 62 non-sack yards, and the Rebels offense's main goal was just to get out of the way and kill clock in the second half. They didn't need much out of star receiver Ricky White III. (They will in the future.)

Most of the obvious preseason G5 contenders looked solid in Week 1. Memphis, App State and Tulane disposed of FCS opponents with little to no difficulty, James Madison scored the final 27 points in a 30-7 win over Charlotte, Boise State and UTSA suffered second-half hiccups but beat Georgia Southern and Kennesaw State, respectively, by double digits, and Fresno State had No. 9 Michigan on the ropes well into the fourth quarter. Liberty's defense showed familiar signs of frailty in a 41-24 win over Campbell, but only Troy (28-26 to Nevada) and Western Kentucky (63-0 to Bama) suffered damning losses. The list of contenders remains long, but no one produced a more provocative first-week win than UNLV.​

 

[LocoRebel]

I noticed that they had UNLV listed at the end of the wrapping up week 1 title and was curious what they said about UNLV? I do not have ESPN plus, but understand if someone wants to keep it top secret!

Good call! Didn't even notice it. Transcript of UNLV bit above

 

[Rebel1986]

Good call! Didn't even notice it. Transcript of UNLV bit above

Thank you for the assist!

 

[1Tripoda]

Take of KU then we will talk like that.

 

[Masked_rebel]

Take of KU then we will talk like that.

I'd take a 1 score game...

 

[1Tripoda]

I'd take a 1 score game...

In our conference, Fresno looks impressive. And Reno is a surprise so far.

 

[Masked_rebel]

Meh, Michigan played a really vanilla game to not show to much before Texas game next week. They're breaking in a bunch of new guys and staff...
And Reno barely beat Troy.. I'm not putting stock in how they look in a loss and a close win...
Same with Boise, I think there is definitely cause for concern, same thing I've been saying about being overhyped, but we'll see if Oregon steps it up or if Boise continues to burn Jeanty...because I don't see Jeanty averaging 4-6 TDs a week..

 

[reagan21]

Meh, Michigan played a really vanilla game to not show to much before Texas game next week. They're breaking in a bunch of new guys and staff...
And Reno barely beat Troy.. I'm not putting stock in how they look in a loss and a close win...
Same with Boise, I think there is definitely cause for concern, same thing I've been saying about being overhyped, but we'll see if Oregon steps it up or if Boise continues to burn Jeanty...because I don't see Jeanty averaging 4-6 TDs a week..

The Boise game should be a cause for concern. 322 yards in the air and allowed 12/19 on 3rd down. They're offense is legitimately good, but their defense should be an issue in most of their games.

 

[Masked_rebel]

Yeah, I tried to watch portion on the split screen, when they took a big lead, with Jeanty running the way he had I swapped them off. Turns out their defense is still an issue and Im willing to bet that teams are going to try and stop Jeanty/Hines more than they fear Madsen's arm

 

[rebneck]

We'll see if Dillon Gabriel prefers Texas or Memphis style, because he's going to barbecue the BSU secondary. Meanwhile, Lanning is going to sellout against Jeanty and make Madsen beat them. Ain't happening.