Nutrition Week, celebrated annually in India from September 1 to 7. The observance is aimed at raising awareness about the importance of nutrition for maintaining good health and well-being. The week serves as a platform to educate people on healthy eating habits, emphasizing how balanced nutrition can prevent diseases and help one stay healthy. On this occasion, we want to talk about the concept of nutritional therapy, also known as Medical Nutritional Therapy (MNT), a growing field in the management of various health conditions.
Also Read: 5 Food Combinations That Can Help With Better Absorption Of Nutrients
What is Nutritional Therapy?
Nutritional therapy, as explained by Consultant Nutritionist Rupali Datta, is a scientific approach that uses food as a means to treat or manage specific diseases. She notes, “Food is an important aspect that prevents the risk of developing lifestyle diseases. If you are already suffering from a disease, it may help prevent the progression and other complications. Nutritional therapy is about how food plays a crucial role in keeping a check on diseases or the risk of developing certain diseases.” This concept is further elaborated by the Cleveland Clinic, which describes Medical Nutritional Therapy (MNT) as a form of treatment that combines nutrition education and behavioural counselling to manage or prevent medical conditions. A registered dietitian collaborates with healthcare teams to identify a patient’s unique health needs and goals. Based on this, a personalized nutrition plan is created to maximize the intake of micro- and macronutrients, optimizing overall health. The dietitian also assists in the implementation of this plan, ensuring that the patient can effectively integrate these changes into their daily life.
Who Needs Nutritional Therapy?
Nutritional therapy is not limited to a particular group of individuals; it is beneficial for anyone looking to manage or prevent a range of health conditions. Medical Nutritional Therapy is especially important for individuals dealing with chronic diseases. For instance, those with chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or digestive issues such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and ulcerative colitis can benefit significantly from tailored dietary plans. MNT is also crucial for managing diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, and gestational) and prediabetes.
Patients with cardiovascular issues like heart failure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and dyslipidemia (an unhealthy balance of lipids in the blood) can also find MNT helpful in managing their conditions. Moreover, people suffering from malnutrition as well as those dealing with obesity or being overweight, can see improvements in their health outcomes with nutritional therapy. Essentially, MNT serves as a critical tool in both the prevention and management of a wide variety of health concerns.
Our bodies need good nutrition for optimal health. Image Credit: iStock
How Effective is Nutritional Therapy?
The effectiveness of nutritional therapy largely depends on the individual’s condition and their commitment to following the prescribed nutritional plan. For many, MNT has proven to be an effective way to manage symptoms, slow disease progression, and even reduce the need for medications. For instance, in the management of diabetes, a carefully controlled diet can significantly reduce blood sugar levels, improving overall health outcomes. Similarly, patients with high cholesterol might experience reduced levels through dietary changes, potentially avoiding the need for statins or other medications.
Moreover, for patients who cannot consume food in the typical way due to short-term or long-term conditions, MNT provides vital nutritional support. This may include intravenous nutrition therapy (parenteral nutrition) or tube feeding (enteral nutrition), ensuring that patients still receive the essential nutrients their bodies need to function optimally.
Also Read: Nutrition In Food: An Ultimate Guide To All Nutrients You Should Be Having
Benefits of Nutritional Therapy
Nutritional therapy offers several benefits, including:
Personalized Care: MNT provides a tailored approach to nutrition, addressing the specific needs and goals of the individual.
Disease Management: It can help manage chronic conditions, reducing symptoms and slowing disease progression.
Medication Reduction: By improving health through diet, some individuals may reduce or eliminate the need for certain medications.
Prevention: MNT plays a crucial role in preventing the onset of lifestyle-related diseases by promoting healthy eating habits.
Nutritional Support: For those unable to consume food normally, MNT ensures they receive the necessary nutrients through alternative methods.
What is an Example of Nutritional Therapy?
An example of nutritional therapy might involve a patient with Type 2 diabetes. The registered dietitian, after assessing the patient’s health, would create a nutrition plan focusing on low-glycemic index foods, rich in fibre, and balanced in macronutrients. The plan might include increasing the intake of vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains while reducing processed sugars and saturated fats. The dietitian would also provide education on portion control and meal timing to help stabilize blood sugar levels throughout the day. This personalized approach helps the patient manage their diabetes more effectively, potentially reducing the need for insulin or other diabetes-related medications.
Whether it’s for preventing lifestyle diseases or managing chronic conditions, nutritional therapy offers a science-backed, personalized approach to achieving better health outcomes. As awareness grows, more people can benefit from this powerful tool in promoting wellness and preventing disease.
The Michigan Wolverines fought tooth and nail against a scrappy Fresno State team on Saturday night at the Big House, and ultimately came out with a 30-10 victory. It wasn’t pretty by any means, but it’s something to build off with the No. 4 team in the country in the Texas Longhorns coming to town next weekend.
And because it wasn’t pretty, there are likely some fans out there with some major overreactions to the Week 1 showing. Let’s go through some of these overreactions and see if there is any merit to them.
This offensive line is not the same caliber as the last three
The offensive line had, let’s just say, a rough first half of the game. New starting right guard Giovanni El-Hadi gave up a sack in the second quarter, and new starting center Dominick Giudice got pushed back on a third-and-one that resulted in Kalel Mullings getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage. Giudice split time with Greg Crippen after that, so it’ll be interesting to see how the line looks moving forward.
All in all, the Wolverines had 2.2 yards per carry at halftime, with Donovan Edwards having just five carries and three yards. It all evened out at the end of the game, with the team averaging 4.4 yards per rush, but the play of the line was a bit concerning.
However, I am definitely NOT going to say this line isn’t the same caliber as the lines from the past three seasons. Even the 2021 offensive line, which took home the Joe Moore Award, took time to mesh. I am optimistic Sherrone Moore and Grant Newsome will right the ship; whether it’s in time for Texas next week is a totally different question.
Answer: Overreaction
This U-M wideout room is the worst in a long time
So yeah…the wide receivers had a pretty bad game against Fresno State — six catches for 34 yards split between Semaj Morgan, Tyler Morris and Kendrick Bell. There was also a dropped ball by Peyton O’Leary, and Fred Moore was targeted on a deep shot that resulted in an interception. The opportunities were there, but the players just couldn’t make any big time plays in this one.
Look, to say a position group is the worst at Michigan in a long time after Week 1 is clearly an overreaction. However, I do understand the concern about the position, and even share some of those feelings myself. We’ve seen flashes and big plays from Morris and Morgan in the past, so I am not worried in the slightest about those two, but everyone else is an unproven commodity. Michigan needs Morris and Morgan to bring their A-game every game, or this overreaction could turn into a factual statement.
Answer: An overreaction…for now
Colston Loveland will lead the team in yards/receptions
Loveland has been the most talked about tight end in American this offseason, and for good reason. He had a breakout sophomore campaign and is the only returning starter on offense for Michigan. He has everything you could possibly want in a tight end, which is why he is currently projected as a first-round pick in nest spring’s NFL Draft.
This is probably a fair reaction to have after last night’s game. Loveland is just a freak at the tight end position, catching pretty much every ball that came his way. He finished with eight catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. He is clearly the most reliable player in the receiving game, so if I were a Michigan quarterback, I would be eyeing him every play. It would not stun me if he led the team in receiving yards by a few hundred.
Answer: Not an overreaction
Michigan has 2 QBs, which means it has 0 QBs
Davis Warren got the start for Michigan, but it was Alex Orji coming off the bench to throw the first touchdown pass of the season. However, that was Orji’s only completion of the night and he only threw the ball one other time, which resulted in a poorly thrown ball that went right into the ground.
Despite Warren’s interception, I didn’t think he played that bad. Pro Football Focus also shares my sentiment, grading him out as the fourth-best offensive player in the game with a 69.7 overall grade. Warren went 15-of-25 for 118 yards, one touchdown and the one pick. He admitted in a postgame interview with Big Ten Network he had some nerves “here and there” — which is understandable considering everything he’s been through — so I will give him a bit of a pass for this game.
I’m skeptical to say Michigan doesn’t have a quarterback right now, but I can also see myself agreeing with this thought if the overall play of the position doesn’t increase by the time we really dive into the conference portion of the season.
Of course, many fans are still reeling after Jenn sent Jonathon home last week instead of Marcus, especially since Marcus wasn’t able to tell Jenn he loves her or show much of a commitment. Also…Jonathon was just fantastic, period. And there’s the fact that Jenn’s mom and brother have concerns about the whole thing now that Jenn is days away from potentially getting engaged. Regardless, we’ll be sitting down with the Bachelorette after the finale to talk about everything that goes down.
While The Bachelorette is the biggest finale of the week, The Perfect Couple on Netflix is about to be the most-talked-about premiere. Starring Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Eve Hewson, Dakota Fanning, Meghann Fahy, and others, the six-episode series is based on the best-selling book by Elin Hilderbrand and is visually stunning (Nantucket will do that), juicy, and exactly what our White Lotus–deprived souls need. It will be all anyone is talking about later this week, so don’t miss it. And check out the trailer below.
On the sports front, the US Open continues on ESPN and ESPN2, and the NFL season kicks off Thursday night on NBC with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs taking on the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City. Taylor Swift will no doubt be in the house, as will Donna Kelce, and I couldn’t be more excited.
English Teacher(FX): This new comedy series premieres tonight with two episodes. The rest—there are eight total—will stream the next day on Hulu. Brian Jordan Alvarez created the series and also stars as the leadz—Evan Marquez, a high school teacher in Austin. Evan wants to be a principled person but often runs into trouble because of it. As Evan navigates his relationships, both personal and professional, he tries to answer the question: Can you really be your full self at your job? 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX and streaming the next day on Hulu
The first week of the college football season had everything. There was a heavyweight matchup between No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 20 Texas A&M that came down to the final minutes and national championship contenders showed weaknesses ahead of big Week 2 showdowns.
But perhaps the biggest winners and losers are the teams whose fortunes changed in an instant. Florida dug itself a hole against No. 19 Miami that it may be unable to escape. The Fighting Irish may have set up a runway to the College Football Playoff. Clemson could already be heading back to the drawing board for this season. And even better? In Week 2, we’ll decide all over again.
Here are some of the biggest winners and losers of college football’s Week 1, including the debuts of a few high-profile prospects that could change the sport.
Winner: Class of 2024
When Nebraska landed Dylan Raiola, he became one of the most high-profile quarterback recruits in school history. It didn’t take long for him to make his presence known. Raiola found receiver Isaiah Neyor for a nearly 60-yard touchdown, one of his two scores in a massive win against UTEP to give Cornhuskers fans their most hope in years.
Raiola was only one of several high-profile Class of 2024 recruits to make themselves heard in Week 1. Running backs Taylor Tatum (Oklahoma), Nate Frazier (Georgia) and Jerrick Gibson (Texas) all found the end zone. Defensive end Dylan Stewart (South Carolina) forced a key fumble to survive Old Dominion.
The biggest winners of the week might have been the incredible wide receiver class. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith dropped his first pass and then went on to have 92 yards and two scores. Alabama’s Ryan Williams only had two catches against Western Kentucky, but both were touchdowns and one was for 84 yards. Auburn’s Cam Coleman had 62 yards and a score. This could be an all-time wide receiver class.
Loser: Oregon
The Ducks entered 2024 alongside Georgia and Ohio State as the chief national title picks and among the most hyped programs in the sport. It took exactly one game for things to come crashing down. The Ducks escaped Idaho with a 24-14 victory, but the Vandals exposed major holes.
Chiefly, the Ducks have major structural issues on the offensive line. After giving up only five total sacks in each of the past two seasons, FCS Idaho sacked Dillon Gabriel three times. Even when adjusting for sacks, the Ducks mustered only 3.8 yards per carry, which was actually worse than the Vandals. Oregon failed on two fourth-down conversions and needed an Idaho offsides penalty to avoid a third turnover on downs and set up a game-deciding touchdown.
Right now, Oregon does not look the part of a conference championship contender, much less national title contender. The Ducks have serious issues, and next week Boise State very well could expose some of them.
Winner: Iowa offense
The first half looked like the same old disaster of the previous years. But when the second half rolled around, Iowa football showed serious promise. In a 40-0 win over Illinois State, the Hawkeyes reached 30 points in a half for the first time since 2021. They threw for three touchdowns in a game for the first time since 2021. They posted their biggest shutout win since 2018 and posted their best yardage since 2019.
But perhaps most special, the youth stood out. Freshman Reece Vander Zee became the first Iowa receiver to record two touchdowns since 2022 — not in a game, but in an entire season. Freshman back Kamari Moulton was second on the team with 65 yards rushing. Combine those with tight end Luke Lachey and a rebounding Cade McNamara and the offense might have some intrigue.
It was against FCS Illinois State, but the Hawkeyes haven’t dominated lesser talent by any means. Granted, it was against FCS power South Dakota State, but Iowa scored just seven points against its last FCS opponent. The score combined with the youth leaves serious reasons for optimism.
Loser: ACC
Last week, ACC favorite Florida State lost earlier in the calendar year than any ranked team since 1997. This week, the damage only got worse. NC State needed a late push just to survive FCS Western Carolina. Virginia Tech lost a thriller with Vanderbilt. Stanford blew a halftime lead against TCU. Clemson got flattened by Georgia and looks nowhere close to competing for anything of substance.
Across the conference, the only teams to overperform their station so far are Miami and Georgia Tech. While the expanded College Football Playoff means a conference team is guaranteed a slot in the party, at-large cases can be won or lost in September.
With such a poor showing against the other conferences, the ACC’s at-large hopes are already on life support. With NC State vs. Tennessee, California at Auburn and BYU at SMU on the schedule next week, the conference desperately needs some good news.
Winner: Penn State WRs
The Nittany Lions were surprisingly quiet in the transfer portal at wide receiver and even lost top target KeAndre Lambert-Smith to Auburn. It very quickly became clear why Penn State was so content to lean on returning talent.
Harrison Wallace III is the breakout star of Penn State’s receiver unit after catching five passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-12 win over West Virginia. Fellow fourth-year Tyler Warren caught another Drew Allar touchdown pass while third-year Omari Evans added another 55 yards.
The new offensive scheme certainly helped create opportunities for Penn State’s skill talent, but the receiving room looks ready for its close up. If the Nittany Lions have playmakers to surround Allar, suddenly, the upside for this team is much higher.
Loser: Florida
Florida hired Billy Napier the same year that Miami hired Mario Cristobal. Both programs have recruited hard and hoped that Year 3 could be a breakout moment. Ultimately, that’s what makes the complete home embarrassment at the hands of the ‘Canes so demoralizing. Florida lost 41-17 and proved it didn’t belong on the same field as an ACC opponent.
There is nearly nothing that Florida for hang its hat on. Miami posted 529 yards. They averaged 7.7 yards per play and had three receivers with at least 70 yards. Gators running back Montrell Johnson broke off a 71-yard touchdown run. Outside of that play, Florida averaged a pathetic 3.6 yards per play.
Making matters worse, Miami was the seventh-higest ranked team on Florida’s schedule this season. It’s almost impossible to see how Florida can right the ship. It’s a curse that the Gators have 11 games left to play.
Winner: Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava
It was against Chattanooga, so there’s no need to overreact. That said, throwing for 314 yards and three touchdowns in your first home start – all in the first half – is nothing to scoff at. The Volunteers obliterated their FCS foe to the tune of 718 yards and Nico was at the center of it. He averaged 11.2 yards per pass attempt and found receivers downfield for some unbelievable connections. Watching Iamaleava and this offense cook will be thrilling.
Loser: Houston
The Cougars knew they were entering a rebuilding cycle after hiring Willie Fritz, but the floor is even lower than expected. Houston lost against UNLV 27-7 in a total beatdown. Quarterback Donovan Smith, who hoped to get on NFL Draft radars, threw two interceptions and the Coogs averaged a cool 1.5 yards per carry. Houston is the worst team in the Big 12 by a significant margin, and will make a case as the worst in the power conferences before the season ends. A 1-11 finish is possible.
Winner: Notre Dame
Perhaps the biggest reason that Notre Dame is a winner is because its College Football Playoff case suddenly got much wider. The Fighting Irish only had three teams in the preseason AP Top 25 on the schedule, and one was No. 10 Florida State. After picking up a win over the Aggies, Notre Dame’s runway to reach 10 wins and a trip to the CFP is wide open. Just as important, quarterback Riley Leonard showed a dual-threat ability that should give them a playmaking dynamic they lacked one year ago.
College football is unpredictable and delightful, which is why we live for what happens on Saturdays. And the first Saturday of the season did not disappoint, delivering both statement-making wins from teams such as Miami and Penn State and performances by Clemson and Florida that led to message-board meltdowns.
Each Sunday, I’ll publish my biggest takeaways from the college football weekend. I’ll highlight the most interesting storylines, track College Football Playoff contenders and specifically shout out individual and team performances that deserve the spotlight.
Here are my top takeaways from Week 1 (through Saturday night):
1. Let’s consider Georgia the best team in the country until proven otherwise.
After a defensive battle in the first half against Clemson, Carson Beck and his receiving corps took over the game, with two 75-yard touchdown drives in the third quarter to pull ahead and the 40-yard touchdown pass to London Humphreys essentially iced it. The Dawgs are supremely talented, super athletic and quite physical, and even though they were heavily favored over the Tigers coming into the game, they still managed to impress in the 34-3 win. After a one-year CFP hiatus, Georgia seems to be the favorite to be the top overall seed.
2. A ton of stars lived up to the hype in Week 1.
Washington State transfer quarterback Cam Ward was spectacular in his Miami debut, completing 26 of 35 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns. Five-star freshman Dylan Raiola dazzled in his Nebraska debut; the Huskers didn’t throw for more than 200 yards in a single game last season, but Raiola threw for 238 and two touchdowns in his very first. Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart put up video-game-caliber numbers in their season-openers, albeit against overmatched opponents. Five-star freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith pulled in two touchdowns in his debut, clearly already a focal point in the Buckeye offense. And Boise State’s do-it-all running back Ashton Jeanty may have had the best individual performance among all of those standouts, rushing for 267 yards on 20 carries — that’s 13.4 yards per carry for those who didn’t want to do the math — and six (!) touchdowns.
3. The potential breakthrough teams appear poised to break out.
Penn State has been the poster child of the 12-team CFP, because it would have benefitted more than any other program over the past decade from an expanded bracket. There’s a great deal of pressure on James Franklin and co. to make the CFP this year, now that the Playoff field is bigger, and divisions have been abolished in the Big Ten. If Penn State’s offense does what it did against West Virginia on Saturday, then this could be a very Happy Valley this fall. Quarterback Drew Allar looked confident and aggressive in his first game under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, with Allar throwing for 216 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions on the road. Meanwhile, Ole Miss could have hung 100 points on poor Furman if it wanted to. Dart threw for 418 yards and accounted for six total touchdowns … all in the first half. The Rebs are another team that’s putting all its eggs into the basket of the first year of the 12-team CFP, and they, too, couldn’t have gotten off to a better start.
4. Week 1 was a mixed bag for the ACC.
Saturday started with Clemson getting blown out by Georgia in a game that cemented the Bulldogs as the favorite to win the national championship and showed just how far the Tigers have fallen from the top of the sport. Again, Dabo Swinney is facing questions about the way he constructs his roster (without using the transfer portal) and why the offense remains so mediocre. Then, Virginia Tech — a popular pick to win the ACC as a dark horse or simply make the CFP as an at-large — went and lost to Vanderbilt in overtime on the road. This is all insult to injury after Florida State’s opening-week win (which, to be fair, was to ACC team Georgia Tech). Miami’s massive 41-17 win over Florida salvaged the day for the league, though, and in doing so cemented the ‘Canes as the favorite to win it. If Miami can actually be Back, that would certainly be a big deal for a conference trying to remain relevant at the highest level of the sport … and a league that’s currently in active litigation against two of its biggest brands in Florida State and Clemson (both 0-1, by the way).
5. Michigan has a lot of work to do.
This is a very different team than the one that won a national championship seven months ago. We knew that going into the season-opener, but it became extremely apparent when watching the new offense. It looked a lot harder for the Wolverines to run the ball with a totally new offensive line. It looked harder for the Wolverines to get the passing game going, too, which is to be expected with former walk-on Davis Warren making his first career start (and Alex Orji, who had never completed a pass in a college football game, in spot duty). Eventually, Michigan figured some things out late in the game, and the defense played well, but this is a team that needs to get better fast, with No. 4 Texas up next week. Fresno State is a good Mountain West team, but it shouldn’t be able to push Michigan around at the line of scrimmage as much as it did. The Longhorns will be fast, physical and explosive. And the Wolverines will have to figure out how to keep up … or it’ll be a long day at the Big House next Saturday.
Johnson snags pick six to secure Michigan win
On Fresno State first-and-goal with just over four minutes left to play in the game, Michigan CB Will Johnson grabbed an 86-yard pick six to seal the season-opening victory for the Wolverines.
6. Notre Dame has a clear path to the College Football Playoff.
The Fighting Irish just won the toughest game on their schedule, a 23-13 win over Texas A&M at Kyle Field. No other environment will be as challenging as that was, and I don’t think any of Notre Dame’s remaining opponents will be favored over the Irish. It’s an incredibly manageable schedule, especially after seeing Florida State lose to Georgia Tech in Week 0. They’ve got USC to close out the season, too, but with the 12-team CFP, there’s a lot more wiggle room for everyone. Notre Dame can probably lose two games and still make the Playoff! That’s the kind of cushion this team has now, with a big road win over a ranked team in its pocket already.
7. Vanderbilt got its best win of the Clark Lea era to date — and the ‘Dores can thank New Mexico State for that.
Vandy won one of the most compelling and competitive games of the day even after watching its 17-point lead evaporate as Virginia Tech came all the way back in the second half. But the ‘Dores have Diego Pavia at quarterback, and the Hokies don’t, and that proved to be the difference in overtime. The graduate transfer from New Mexico State (and the reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year) helped Jerry Kill turn that downtrodden program into one that won 10 games in 2023. Vanderbilt head coach lured both Pavia and Kill to Nashville, and that move proved genius already. Pavia scored the game-winning touchdown run in overtime, finishing the game with 104 rushing yards and 190 passing yards (and three total touchdowns).
8. Iowa has a functioning offense?!
I’m as surprised as you are! But the Hawkeyes notched a 40-0 win over Illinois State with 492 yards of offense, the most offensive yardage for Iowa in a single game in five years. There were three touchdown passes caught by wide receivers in the second half alone, which matched the total number of touchdown receptions by Iowa receivers all of last season. New offensive coordinator Tim Lester and quarterback Cade McNamara, who missed much of last year with an injury, must feel great after a performance like that.
9. Ninth-year senior Cam McCormick scored Miami’s first points of the season with a nine-yard touchdown reception.
So, of course he had to get the No. 9 spot in my takeaways. McCormick is one of my favorite players in all of college football, and it’s not just because he’s the closest to my age. (He’s 26.) He’s the longest-tenured player in college football history after enrolling as part of Oregon’s 2016 recruiting class — alongside Justin Herbert, who is about to enter his fifth (!) season in the NFL. McCormick redshirted in 2016, played the full season in 2017, then suffered season-ending injuries in 2018, 2019 and 2021. This is his second season at Miami, and the touchdown he caught on Saturday was only the fifth of his very long career. It’s easy to feel great for this kid — err, adult man who can definitely rent a car — for opening the 2024 season on such a positive note.
10. Travis Hunter deserves to be in the Heisman conversation.
Maybe this is wishcasting, because I love to see non-quarterbacks in the mix for college football’s greatest individual honor. And Colorado’s two-way superstar is one of the best players in the sport, even if his team doesn’t end up contending for any championships or if his usage decreases as the season goes on. Counting offense, defense and special teams, Hunter played 137 snaps in the Buffs’ win over North Dakota State, per PFF. That’s an insane workload and probably is not at all sustainable for an entire season. But Hunter is already talented enough as both a cornerback and wide receiver to prompt the question of what he should play in the NFL. (I vote wide receiver, FWIW. Or both!) While we have him in college, though, he’s appointment television while doing something incredibly difficult. And we need to celebrate that and keep it top of mind, even as we see quarterbacks pile up the yardage week over week.
College football is unpredictable and delightful, which is why we live for what happens on Saturdays. And the first Saturday of the season did not disappoint, delivering both statement-making wins from teams such as Miami and Penn State and performances by Clemson and Florida that led to message-board meltdowns.
Each Sunday, I’ll publish my biggest takeaways from the college football weekend. I’ll highlight the most interesting storylines, track College Football Playoff contenders and specifically shout out individual and team performances that deserve the spotlight.
Here are my top takeaways from Week 1 (through Saturday night):
1. Let’s consider Georgia the best team in the country until proven otherwise.
After a defensive battle in the first half against Clemson, Carson Beck and his receiving corps took over the game, with two 75-yard touchdown drives in the third quarter to pull ahead and the 40-yard touchdown pass to London Humphreys essentially iced it. The Dawgs are supremely talented, super athletic and quite physical, and even though they were heavily favored over the Tigers coming into the game, they still managed to impress in the 34-3 win. After a one-year CFP hiatus, Georgia seems to be the favorite to be the top overall seed.
2. A ton of stars lived up to the hype in Week 1.
Washington State transfer quarterback Cam Ward was spectacular in his Miami debut, completing 26 of 35 passes for 385 yards and three touchdowns. Five-star freshman Dylan Raiola dazzled in his Nebraska debut; the Huskers didn’t throw for more than 200 yards in a single game last season, but Raiola threw for 238 and two touchdowns in his very first. Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart put up video-game-caliber numbers in their season-openers, albeit against overmatched opponents. Five-star freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith pulled in two touchdowns in his debut, clearly already a focal point in the Buckeye offense. And Boise State’s do-it-all running back Ashton Jeanty may have had the best individual performance among all of those standouts, rushing for 267 yards on 20 carries — that’s 13.4 yards per carry for those who didn’t want to do the math — and six (!) touchdowns.
3. The potential breakthrough teams appear poised to break out.
Penn State has been the poster child of the 12-team CFP, because it would have benefitted more than any other program over the past decade from an expanded bracket. There’s a great deal of pressure on James Franklin and co. to make the CFP this year, now that the Playoff field is bigger, and divisions have been abolished in the Big Ten. If Penn State’s offense does what it did against West Virginia on Saturday, then this could be a very Happy Valley this fall. Quarterback Drew Allar looked confident and aggressive in his first game under new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, with Allar throwing for 216 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions on the road. Meanwhile, Ole Miss could have hung 100 points on poor Furman if it wanted to. Dart threw for 418 yards and accounted for six total touchdowns … all in the first half. The Rebs are another team that’s putting all its eggs into the basket of the first year of the 12-team CFP, and they, too, couldn’t have gotten off to a better start.
4. Week 1 was a mixed bag for the ACC.
Saturday started with Clemson getting blown out by Georgia in a game that cemented the Bulldogs as the favorite to win the national championship and showed just how far the Tigers have fallen from the top of the sport. Again, Dabo Swinney is facing questions about the way he constructs his roster (without using the transfer portal) and why the offense remains so mediocre. Then, Virginia Tech — a popular pick to win the ACC as a dark horse or simply make the CFP as an at-large — went and lost to Vanderbilt in overtime on the road. This is all insult to injury after Florida State’s opening-week win (which, to be fair, was to ACC team Georgia Tech). Miami’s massive 41-17 win over Florida salvaged the day for the league, though, and in doing so cemented the ‘Canes as the favorite to win it. If Miami can actually be Back, that would certainly be a big deal for a conference trying to remain relevant at the highest level of the sport … and a league that’s currently in active litigation against two of its biggest brands in Florida State and Clemson (both 0-1, by the way).
5. Michigan has a lot of work to do.
This is a very different team than the one that won a national championship seven months ago. We knew that going into the season-opener, but it became extremely apparent when watching the new offense. It looked a lot harder for the Wolverines to run the ball with a totally new offensive line. It looked harder for the Wolverines to get the passing game going, too, which is to be expected with former walk-on Davis Warren making his first career start (and Alex Orji, who had never completed a pass in a college football game, in spot duty). Eventually, Michigan figured some things out late in the game, and the defense played well, but this is a team that needs to get better fast, with No. 4 Texas up next week. Fresno State is a good Mountain West team, but it shouldn’t be able to push Michigan around at the line of scrimmage as much as it did. The Longhorns will be fast, physical and explosive. And the Wolverines will have to figure out how to keep up … or it’ll be a long day at the Big House next Saturday.
Johnson snags pick six to secure Michigan win
On Fresno State first-and-goal with just over four minutes left to play in the game, Michigan CB Will Johnson grabbed an 86-yard pick six to seal the season-opening victory for the Wolverines.
6. Notre Dame has a clear path to the College Football Playoff.
The Fighting Irish just won the toughest game on their schedule, a 23-13 win over Texas A&M at Kyle Field. No other environment will be as challenging as that was, and I don’t think any of Notre Dame’s remaining opponents will be favored over the Irish. It’s an incredibly manageable schedule, especially after seeing Florida State lose to Georgia Tech in Week 0. They’ve got USC to close out the season, too, but with the 12-team CFP, there’s a lot more wiggle room for everyone. Notre Dame can probably lose two games and still make the Playoff! That’s the kind of cushion this team has now, with a big road win over a ranked team in its pocket already.
7. Vanderbilt got its best win of the Clark Lea era to date — and the ‘Dores can thank New Mexico State for that.
Vandy won one of the most compelling and competitive games of the day even after watching its 17-point lead evaporate as Virginia Tech came all the way back in the second half. But the ‘Dores have Diego Pavia at quarterback, and the Hokies don’t, and that proved to be the difference in overtime. The graduate transfer from New Mexico State (and the reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year) helped Jerry Kill turn that downtrodden program into one that won 10 games in 2023. Vanderbilt head coach lured both Pavia and Kill to Nashville, and that move proved genius already. Pavia scored the game-winning touchdown run in overtime, finishing the game with 104 rushing yards and 190 passing yards (and three total touchdowns).
8. Iowa has a functioning offense?!
I’m as surprised as you are! But the Hawkeyes notched a 40-0 win over Illinois State with 492 yards of offense, the most offensive yardage for Iowa in a single game in five years. There were three touchdown passes caught by wide receivers in the second half alone, which matched the total number of touchdown receptions by Iowa receivers all of last season. New offensive coordinator Tim Lester and quarterback Cade McNamara, who missed much of last year with an injury, must feel great after a performance like that.
9. Ninth-year senior Cam McCormick scored Miami’s first points of the season with a nine-yard touchdown reception.
So, of course he had to get the No. 9 spot in my takeaways. McCormick is one of my favorite players in all of college football, and it’s not just because he’s the closest to my age. (He’s 26.) He’s the longest-tenured player in college football history after enrolling as part of Oregon’s 2016 recruiting class — alongside Justin Herbert, who is about to enter his fifth (!) season in the NFL. McCormick redshirted in 2016, played the full season in 2017, then suffered season-ending injuries in 2018, 2019 and 2021. This is his second season at Miami, and the touchdown he caught on Saturday was only the fifth of his very long career. It’s easy to feel great for this kid — err, adult man who can definitely rent a car — for opening the 2024 season on such a positive note.
10. Travis Hunter deserves to be in the Heisman conversation.
Maybe this is wishcasting, because I love to see non-quarterbacks in the mix for college football’s greatest individual honor. And Colorado’s two-way superstar is one of the best players in the sport, even if his team doesn’t end up contending for any championships or if his usage decreases as the season goes on. Counting offense, defense and special teams, Hunter played 137 snaps in the Buffs’ win over North Dakota State, per PFF. That’s an insane workload and probably is not at all sustainable for an entire season. But Hunter is already talented enough as both a cornerback and wide receiver to prompt the question of what he should play in the NFL. (I vote wide receiver, FWIW. Or both!) While we have him in college, though, he’s appointment television while doing something incredibly difficult. And we need to celebrate that and keep it top of mind, even as we see quarterbacks pile up the yardage week over week.
Evidence that Clemson’s offense has finally turned a corner will have to wait at least another week.
Facing off against No. 1 Georgia, the No. 14 Tigers cobbled together just 188 yards on 3.6 yards per play in a 34-3 loss. After spending just two snaps inside opposing territory in the first half — one ended in a loss, the other in a penalty — Clemson’s only points came on a 26-yard field about midway through the third quarter, by which point the Bulldogs had built a 13-0 lead. Georgia would respond to the Tigers’ field goal with a touchdown on the ensuing possession to erase any sense of momentum.
After coming up just short of the College Football Playoff last season, Georgia looks built to smother teams on the way to a third national championship in four years. For the Tigers, even short gains felt like accomplishments; any long gain felt like an absolute miracle.
Second-year starting quarterback Cade Klubnik finished 18 of 29 for 142 yards, just 4.9 yards per attempt, with an interception. His receiver corps struggled to get any separation against the Bulldogs’ secondary while Clemson’s offensive front failed to get any movement, resulting in just 46 rushing yards on 23 carries. Overall, the performance would be shocking had we not seen it again and again these past three seasons — a crippling run of unrealized production that has coincided with Clemson’s disappearance from the national stage.
Of course, Georgia is going to do this to teams. The Bulldogs were not only dominant defensively but unsurprisingly effective on the offensive side: Carson Beck was 23 of 33 for 278 yards and two scores, kickstarting his Heisman Trophy campaign in style, while seven runners combined for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 6.3 yards per carry.
Even if the Bulldogs are the No. 1 team in the country, that Clemson was thoroughly dominated shows how far the Tigers stand from true title contention. When these two teams met in 2021, a 10-3 Georgia win, you could’ve made the case that Clemson was only a step or two behind the eventual national champs. A few years later, that gap has widened to miles and miles of what seems to be insurmountable space.
That makes Georgia the biggest winner and Clemson the biggest loser from Week 1 of the 2024 season. Here’s the rest of the list:
Winners
Penn State
The No. 9 Nittany Lions’ new-look offense delivered 457 yards on 7.6 yards per play, led by quarterback Drew Allar’s 216 passing yards and three touchdowns on 13.1 yards per throw, in a 34-12 win at West Virginia. This a quick validation of James Franklin’s decision to hire coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, who previously worked wonders in the same position at Kansas. The turning point was a late touchdown drive to end the first half, a 73-yard haul in just three plays to respond to put Penn State in front 20-6 at the break. After an extended weather delay, the Nittany Lions tacked on a pair of touchdowns in the second half for a convincing road win against Power Four opponent. After one week, the Nittany Lions look like a very legitimate Big Ten threat and one of the top contenders for the playoff.
Dylan Raiola
The five-star true freshman kicked off his college career at Nebraska with a bang: Raiola completed 19 of 28 throws for 238 yards and two scores without an interception as the Cornhuskers got started with a breezy 40-7 win at home against Texas-El Paso. One of the biggest additions of the offseason in the Big Ten, Raiola is a clear upgrade over what Nebraska worked with in Matt Rhule’s first season and one of a few reasons why the Cornhuskers are a trendy pick for eight or more wins.
Tennessee
It’s only Chattanooga, so let’s not get too excited. But the 69-3 win for the No. 15 Tennessee was highlighted by a wonderful 2024 debut for redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava, a former five-star prospect who got his feet wet in four appearances last season. Iamaleava hit on 22 of 28 throws for 314 yards and three touchdowns, including a 59-yard score to Dont’e Thornton Jr., before taking a seat for almost all of the final two quarters. All but one of his 314 yards came in the first half to set a new program record for one half, breaking by one yard the previous mark set by Tyler Bray against Troy in 2012.
Ohio State and Texas
These two playoff favorites hit the ground running. New Ohio State quarterback Will Howard had 246 yards of total offense and several freshmen made an immediate impact as the No. 2 Buckeyes poured it on in the second half to beat Akron 52-6. One rookie, five-star receiver Jeremiah Smith, led Ohio State with six grabs for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman running back James Peoples had 30 yards and a score in six carries behind co-starters TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, who combined for 120 yards on 21 touches. Texas rolled past Colorado State 52-0 behind 545 yards of offense to set up next week’s huge non-conference matchup against No. 8 Michigan. The win included the first career touchdown pass for redshirt freshman Arch Manning, who finished with 95 passing yards.
Losers
Florida
The clock is ticking on Billy Napier after an ugly, hard-to-watch 41-17 loss at home to Miami showed just how far the program has fallen in his third season. In a must-win game against a bitter rival, the Gators were barely competitive. The schedule was always going to be a problem: Florida is slated to play eight ranked teams, including five ranked opponents in a row to close the regular season. While the Hurricanes have clearly taken a step forward thanks to additions such as new quarterback Cam Ward, who threw for 385 yards and three scores, that the Gators were whipped in the Swamp is the strongest hint to date that Napier’s time is numbered and that this year’s team could be just the second since 1980 to lose eight or more games.
Virginia Tech
At the very least, an overtime loss at Vanderbilt evaporates all of the optimism around the Hokies after a very strong close to last season and and immediately tosses the Hokies out of any consideration for the Top 25. Down 17-3 at halftime, Tech scrambled back to take the a 27-20 lead before the Commodores tied the game with under two minutes left in regulation. While not important in the grander scheme of things — any road to the playoff has to include an ACC title — falling to the Commodores is the sort of loss that can come to define a season, if not cut a promising year down to size before getting into September.
ACC
Miami might’ve looked the part, but that result was an outlier amid a bad first step for the ACC. Clemson was blasted by Georgia. Virginia Tech lost to Vanderbilt. No. 21 North Carolina State struggled to put away Western Carolina. A week ago, No. 10 Florida State got things started for the ACC with a loss to Georgia Tech. It’s been a pretty awful start for the conference, which was already badly losing a battle of public perception against the Big Ten and SEC. Down the line, bad losses in non-conference play and sloppy showings from the league’s best of the best could hold major sway with the playoff selection committee as they look through a dozen or more options from the Power Four for the seven at-large bids.
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No. 9 Michigan opens the season with a home game against the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday night and the Wolverines as 21-point favorites.
That spread makes sense, but I’m leaning with under 45.5 total points for this bet.
I expect Michigan to suffocate Fresno State on defense and play a ball-control style of offense that limits possessions.
Look for the Wolverines to heavily lean on the running game, especially considering they haven’t named a full-time starting quarterback and are expected to play both Alex Orji and Davis Warren.
With two quarterbacks getting reps, I don’t think Michigan will pull away for a traditional blowout win. Plus, the Bulldogs are one of the better Group of Five teams and should provide some level of resistance.
The Wolverines also have one of the best defenses in the country, so there’s no reason for the offense to air it out and risk turnovers.
Led by the elite defensive tackle duo of Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, Michigan’s defense should be just as stingy as it was last year when it only gave up 9.5 points per game.
It’s also instructive to look at Michigan’s non-conference games against Group of Five teams last season. The Wolverines beat East Carolina, 30-3, in Week 1, topped UNLV, 35-7 in the next game and defeated Bowling Green, 31-6, in Week 3.
Even with a future first-round pick at QB in J.J. McCarthy, Michigan never got to 40 points in those games and all of those games finished well below 45 total points.
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Brentwood Academy’s Jake Atkins (58) celebrates after defeating Brentwood at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy’s C.J. Jimcoily (5) runs onto the field before an high school football game against Thompson Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Ethan Utley (55) tackles against MBA during the second quarter at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Brentwood’s Gavyn Nelson (2) is tackled by Brentwood Academy’s Easton Jointer (7) during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Neo Clifton (3) receives a pass past Brentwood’s Jackson Allen (40) and Mason Ball (6) during the first half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Stewarts Creek’s Grady Harvey (80) celebrates his touchdown against Blackman with Stewarts Creek’s Cason Agnew (65) on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Thompson’s Anguon Fegans (0) breaks up as pass intended for Lipscomb Academy wide receiver Cam Fowler (14) during an high school football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy’s Cam Blivens (7) celebrates with Chauncey Gooden (55) after Blivens caught a touchdown pass against Thompson during an high school football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Arkez Fontenot (6) is tripped up by Brentwood’s Mason Ball (6) during the first half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Blackman’s running back Grant Gardner (12) celebrates his touchdown against Stewarts Creek with Blackman’s Skyler Grove (84) during the football game, at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Brentwood Academy’s London Bironas (2) reacts after defeating Brentwood at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy head coach Paul Wade speaks to his team after defeating Brentwood at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Arkez Fontenot (6) is tackled by Brentwood’s Chandler Romero (55) during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
CPA’s Rawls Patterson (22) breaks past Pearl-Cohn’s defense during their game at Pearl-Cohn High School Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Arkez Fontenot (6) reacts after defeating Brentwood at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Taylor Hasselbeck (7) looks to throw against MBA during the fourth quarter at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth offensive coordinator Matt Hasselbeck watches the team during warm ups before they play against MBA at the Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Jayden Pyant (8) runs with the ball against MBA at the Montgomery Bell Academy during the fourth quarter in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Taylor Hasselbeck (7) throws to a teammate against MBA during the fourth quarter at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Taylor Hasselbeck (7) passes to Ensworth’s Jayden Pyant (8) during the fourth quarter at the Montgomery Bell Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Taylor Hasselbeck (7) talks to Ensworth head coach Tim Hasselbeck during the fourth quarter against MBA the Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s fan react as they watch their team play against MBA at the Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Taylor Hasselbeck (7) throws to an teammate against MBA at the Montgomery Bell Academy during the second quarter in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Sam Haley (4) defends the ball against MBA at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Micah Smith (6) reacts after scoring a touchdown against MBA at the Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
MBA’s Brooklen Davis (2) defends the ball against Ensworth’s Demarii Thompson (10) during the first quarter at the Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Pearl-Cohn’s L.J. Funk (16) attempts to throw a pass while being taken down by CPA’s Mack Sherrod (57) during their game at Pearl-Cohn High School Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean
CPA’s Weston Parker (21) runs the ball during their game at Pearl-Cohn High School Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean
CPA’s Rawls Patterson (22) runs past Pearl-Cohn’s Josh Sims (6) for a touchdown during their game at Pearl-Cohn High School Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean
Pearl-Cohn’s Javion Kinnard (1) runs the ball as CPA’s Bradshaw Klym (24) closes in during their game at Pearl-Cohn High School Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean
Pearl-Cohn’s Javion Kinnard (1) attempts to evade a tackle by CPA’s Weston Willeford (16) during their game at Pearl-Cohn High School Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean
Pearl-Cohn’s Donovan Higgins (3) is tackled by CPA’s Owen Cabell (14) after intercepting a pass during their game at Pearl-Cohn High School Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean
Pearl-Cohn’s Omarion Starnes (0) breaks past CPA’s defense during their game at Pearl-Cohn High School Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean
CPA’s Owen Cabell (14) catches a pass while being guarded by Pearl-Cohn’s Anthony Carnahan (23) during their game at Pearl-Cohn High School Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean
CPA’s Rawls Patterson (22) runs the ball during their game at Pearl-Cohn High School Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Alan Poizner/For The Tennessean
Brentwood’s Keenan Fisher (96) kicks a field goal against Brentwood Academy during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s George Macintyre (12) runs the ball against Brentwood during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood’s Gavyn Nelson (2) receives a pass against Brentwood Academy during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s George Macintyre (12) celebrates with his team after defeating Brentwood at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s George Macintyre (12) runs the ball against Brentwood during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Arkez Fontenot (6) evades Brentwood’s Chandler Romero (55) during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Neo Clifton (3) is pulled down by Brentwood’s Jackson Allen (40) during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s George Macintyre (12) looks to hand off against Brentwood during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood’s Canon Kinder (8) throws against Brentwood Academy during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s George Macintyre (12) huddles up with his team after defeating Brentwood at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Eli Ferguson (5) is tripped up by Brentwood’s Mason Ball (6) during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood’s Parker Emerson (34) runs the ball against Brentwood Academy during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Neo Clifton (3) evades Brentwood’s Jackson Allen (40) during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Neo Clifton (3) celebrates an interception against Brentwood during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Luke Robison (10) runs the ball against Brentwood during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Arkez Fontenot (6) runs the ball towards Brentwood’s Barron Lankford (45) during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood’s Canon Kinder (8) looks for a receiver against Brentwood Academy during the second half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
MBA’s Elias Franks (25) aims to catch the ball against MBA’s Graham Geshke (6) during the second quarter at MBA’s Tommy Owen Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Taylor Hasselbeck (7) looks to pass to a teammate against MBA during the first half at MBA’s Tommy Owen Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Taylor Hasselbeck (7) throws to an open player against MBA during the first half at MBA’s Tommy Owen Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Bishop Starling (0) reacts after scoring a touchdown against MBA at MBA’s Tommy Owen Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Blake Surratt (9) reacts after scoring a touchdown against MBA at the MBA’s Tommy Owen Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Blake Surratt (9) pulls on MBA’s Charlie Verner (7) as he runs with the ball at the MBA’s Tommy Owen Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Ensworth’s Bishop Starling (0) scores a touchdown against MBA during the second quarter at MBA’s Tommy Owen Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
MBA fans react to the team playing against Ensworth at MBA’s Tommy Owen Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Stephanie Amador / The Tennessean
Blackman’s running back Jabari Kemp (28) carries the ball during the football game against Stewarts Creek, at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Stewarts Creek’s quarterback Jerry Taylor (3) dives into the end zone for a touchdown against Blackman during the football game, at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Stewarts Creek’s head coach Ben Caudill on the sidelines during the football game against Blackman, at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Stewarts Creek’s quarterback Jerry Taylor (3) passes the ball as Blackman’s Isaac Leavy (50) puts on the pressure at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Stewarts Creek’s Caleb Floyd (1) carries the ball during the football game against Blackman, at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Blackman’s head coach Matt Kriesky on the sidelines during the football game against Stewarts Creek at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Stewarts Creek’s Caleb Floyd (1) carries the ball are Blackman’s Ethan Carson (1) puts on the pressure during the football game, at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Blackman’s quarterback Jonathan Hamby (14) looks for a receiver pass to during the football game against Stewarts Creek, at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Stewarts Creek’s Kai Mangrum (4) carries the ball as Blackman’s Daniel Smith (3) dives and misses a tackle before Blackman’s Isaac Leavy (50) pushes Mangrum out bounds, at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Blackman’s running back Grant Gardner (12) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown against Stewarts Creek on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Stewarts Creek’s Grady Harvey (80) celebrates as he crosses into the end zone for a touchdown against Blackman at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Stewarts Creek’s Jerry Taylor (3) runs the ball to the end zone for a touchdown as Blackman’s Paul Lankford (9) puts on the pressure during the football game, at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Blackman’s Jayden Guy (0) carries the ball during the football game against Stewarts Creek, at Blackman on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
HELEN COMER/The Daily News Journal
Brentwood Academy’s Eli Ferguson (5) receives a pass against Brentwood during the first half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Arkez Fontenot (6) runs the ball against Brentwood during the first half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s George Macintyre (12) throws against Brentwood during the first half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s George Macintyre (12) runs the ball against Brentwood during the first half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Luke Robison (10) scores a touchdown past Brentwood’s Jackson Allen (40) during the first half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Luke Robison (10) celebrates his touchdown against Brentwood with Trell Shivers (77) during the first half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Eli Ferguson (5) loses the ball on a hit from Brentwood’s Barron Lankford (45) during the first half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s George Macintyre (12) looks for a receiver against Brentwood during the first half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s London Bironas (2) kicks a field goal against Brentwood during the first half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Brentwood Academy’s Kesean Bowman (11) is pulled down by Brentwood’s Mason Ball (6) during the first half at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tenn., Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean
Thompson players run onto the field before an high school football game against Lipscomb Academy Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy head coach Jamie Graham watches the action from the sideline during an high school football game against Thompson Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy’s Weston Hicks (77) lines up for the next play during an high school football game against Thompson Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy running back Zechariah Crockett (32) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Thompson during an high school football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy’s Chauncey Gooden (55) walks off the field after the team’s loss to Thompson during an high school football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Thompson’s R.J. Evans (8) grabs Lipscomb Academy’s Cam Blivens (7) jersey as Damonte Tabb (20) assists on bringing down Blivens during an high school football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy players run onto the field before an high school football game against Thompson Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy running back Drew Patterson (22) is tackled by Thompson wide linebacker Vini Pires (1) during an high school football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy’s Kris Thompson (2) and Danny Brown (9) walk off the field after the team’s loss to Thompson in an high school football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy wide receiver Bo Strickland (0) catches a pass ahead of Thompson linebacker Trent Cheatom (7) during an high school football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy’s Bo Strickland (0) fumbles a punt as Thompson’s Payton Lewis (6) reaches in during an high school football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. Strickland recovered his own fumble.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy wide receiver Cam Blivens (7) catches a pass for a touchdown above Thompson’s Zamiere Wirt (17) during an high school football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy quarterback Tav Shaffer (8) throws the ball during an high school football game against Thompson Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy head coach Jamie Graham talks to his coaches on his head set during an high school football game against Thompson Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy’s Jesse McCormick, right, tackles Thompson wide receiver Trey Knight (2) during an high school football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy’s Tripp Naiman (19) and Cullen Womble, top, bring down Thompson running back R.J. Evans (8) during an high school football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean
Lipscomb Academy wide receiver T.J. Briggs (80) looks to the sidelines during an high school football game against Thompson Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.
