From the sports desk somewhere beneath the main deck of the Good Pirate Ship RedState, Sammy the Shark and Karl the Kraken are grinding away as usual, fins and tentacles fully committed, to deliver the latest from the world of sports.
Or, depending on the day, their definitive rankings of fish cracker flavors.
In any case, college football finally hits full speed over Labor Day weekend, with every team in the AP Top 25 scheduled to take the field. My California Golden Bears did not make the cut, unfortunately, but the ranked teams entering the weekend are as follows:
The opening full week of the college football season is not usually packed with marquee matchups, and this year’s schedule largely follows that pattern. Top-ranked Ohio State, for instance, begins at home against Ball State. The Buckeyes are favored by 50 1/2 points, a line so large it almost makes taking the Cardinals against the spread feel reasonable if they can keep the damage to something like a respectable 49-7 loss.
There is, however, one ranked-versus-ranked game on the board: No. 9 Ole Miss meets No. 24 Louisville in Nashville on Sunday, September 6. The Rebels bring quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, an occasional Heisman Trophy talking point, along with running back Kewan Lacy. Louisville counters with a strong three-man running back group, though the rest of the offense comes with plenty of unanswered questions. With neither defense viewed as especially intimidating, this matchup has the ingredients for a high-scoring show.
As for the Heisman Trophy race, the early spotlight is once again on quarterbacks, this time with some very recognizable surnames. Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, is known more for accuracy than mobility. He is not especially dangerous as a runner, and pressure can disrupt his rhythm, leaving open the question of whether he is ready to elevate his game. Right behind him is Texas quarterback Arch Manning, whose family tree needs little introduction: he is Archie Manning’s grandson and the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning. After an uneven start to his college career, Manning has begun producing at a level closer to the massive expectations that followed him out of high school. Though his passing draws most of the attention, he can also make defenses pay with his legs. He still has the occasional puzzling miss on routine plays, but the overall package is a real threat.
Elsewhere this weekend, one of the most compelling storylines comes Saturday, September 5, in Baton Rouge, where Clemson visits LSU for a meeting with intrigue both on the field and far beyond it. Call it Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright with a legal subplot. LSU has been pushing to add players seeking to use a fifth year of eligibility despite having signed professional contracts, and in some cases even appearing in NFL preseason games this year. The SEC, meanwhile, is trying to maintain the position that the athletes across its member programs remain actual students in the traditional sense. For now, LSU appears to hold the advantage, though the conference is continuing to press its claim in court. More developments are likely to follow.
Enjoy the weekend, everyone.
