Tonight's College Football Games (8/31/2023)
First off, Happy Phil Brabbs kick against Washington Anniversary! (8/31/2002)
And back to present day, tonight starts 5 straight days of college football games, which is now a Labor Day weekend tradition. The two most notable games this evening are...
- Nebraska @ Minnesota 8:00 on Fox. Matt Rhule's debut against the guy who likes to row a boat.
- Florida @ Utah 8:00 on ESPN. They played a classic game last year that went down to the final seconds. Maybe another good game tonight?
The rest of the lineup sounds pretty meh but it's still football.....
- Elon @ Wake Forest 7:00 on ACC Network
- Kent State @ Central Florida 7:00 on FS1
- Rhode Island @ Georgia State 7:00 on ESPN+
- St. Francis @ Western Michigan 7:00 on ESPN+
- North Carolina State @ Connecticut 7:30 on CBSSN
- South Dakota @ Missouri 8:00 on SEC Network
- Arkansas Pine Bluff @ Tulsa 8:00 on ESPN+
- North Carolina A&T @ UAB 8:00 on EPSN+
- Southern Utah @ Arizona State 10:00 on ???
August 31st, 2023 at 9:51 PM ^
"Nebraska makes chicken salad...!"
August 31st, 2023 at 9:53 PM ^
Nebraska Cornstars
August 31st, 2023 at 9:57 PM ^
Eat it, Florida.
August 31st, 2023 at 9:58 PM ^
Turns out new school and Mertz still isn't a decent QB, not exactly a shocker. Some people still hung up on his recruiting rankings instead of what he actually is as a college QB.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:03 PM ^
Only year 2, but Napier going to be in trouble soon.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:04 PM ^
Mertz = coach killer
August 31st, 2023 at 10:07 PM ^
Napier is giving me in over his head Hoke vibes, only difference is he didn't have a Cinderella first year so his tenure for Florida might not be quite as long as Hoke here. Side note according to delusion SEC fans aren't mid to bottom tier SEC teams supposed to be better or equal to better teams in other conferences, LMAO.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:15 PM ^
Napier has done a good job getting the media to put forth this story that Florida's cupboards were bare and that he needs to rebuild this team from the studs and blah blah blah but this is Florida and it's year 2 and his team doesn't look particularly well coached or developed. They're getting maybe the best game Graham Mertz has put together in years and this game is still barely competitive.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:13 PM ^
Nate Johnson really has butterfingers
August 31st, 2023 at 10:14 PM ^
Johnson almost just fumbled back to back plays.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:14 PM ^
What a stupid play by #9 for Nebraska.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:16 PM ^
I'm feeling way better about @Minnesota now. This team is bad. These are two teams that will be lucky to go bowling
August 31st, 2023 at 10:16 PM ^
Would it be fair to say that Florida is one of the places in the country where due to the recruiting base it is kind of inexcusable to be any less than a 8-9 win team even in down years?
August 31st, 2023 at 10:18 PM ^
I'd kill to the have the recruiting base Florida has access to. They should def be an 8-4 minimum program. This looks like a 5-7 team
August 31st, 2023 at 10:16 PM ^
That's a punt. Good lord.
Also, Minnesota might lose to this garbage Nebraska team. Fleck isn't on the hot seat or anything but I hope Minnesota fans recognize that the ceiling for this team, especially once the 4 other teams come in and divisions disappear, ain't that high.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:17 PM ^
Kaliakmanis with a terrible throw.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:18 PM ^
Wow. Minnesota and Nebraska are awful. I know it's the first game of the season, but...dang.
UM@MN and UM@NE. Both games the home team will need Michigan to turn the ball over at least three times for a reasonable chance to win.
#GoBlue
August 31st, 2023 at 10:20 PM ^
Yep, both of those road games are looking easier than we thought.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:21 PM ^
I didn't expect a ton out of Nebraska in year 1 but I figured Minnesota wouldn't look this awful.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:20 PM ^
Watching the Gators play as bad as they are is making me think we might still land Chiles if we keep recruiting him. Hard to stay committed to that unless the price is big enough.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:21 PM ^
looking up the box score on the neb v. minny game. ouch. both teams got a whole lot less scary, not that we wouldn't be favored but it looks like they can't get out of their own way.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:22 PM ^
Pac 12 has had a reputation of being soft, but definitely something you could never accuse Utah of being. Not amazing talent as a whole but they just always play a physical brand of football. I think USC and their fans might get another reminder of that this year.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:25 PM ^
I love the way they play. Always look prepared.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:27 PM ^
Utah is the complete antithesis of PAC-12 football
August 31st, 2023 at 10:28 PM ^
They really are Michigan lite, just not as talented as a whole is the only difference.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:35 PM ^
They are absolutely my 2nd favorite team to watch because of the style they play. Also, Utah fans were over-the-top nice to me and mine in 2015. Beautiful place to watch a game
August 31st, 2023 at 10:23 PM ^
Florida OL is bad
August 31st, 2023 at 10:23 PM ^
Florida running...something on 3rd-and-10 at midfield and then running basically a 2-man route on 4th-and-9 is fireable playcalling, honestly. It's like a surrender cobra for a coach.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:23 PM ^
Wonder if Michigan will have a drive that’s longer than a quarter with this running clock.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:25 PM ^
Nebraska is just pushing Minnesota down the field on this drive. Sims can absolutely run the ball so that'll be a test for Michigan. I still don't think they have any receivers and their offensive line is mediocre but he looks like a plus weapon on the ground.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:25 PM ^
Also, not sure if it's been mentioned but former Michigan target Spencer Fano is starting for Utah at LT as a true freshman
August 31st, 2023 at 10:26 PM ^
Too early to say for sure, but if Minnesota doesn't get this game then where are they finding 6 wins?
Eastern
@UNC
@NW
LA-Lafayette
Michigan
@Iowa
Staee
Illinois
@Purdue
@OSU
Wisconsin
I don't see 6 wins
August 31st, 2023 at 11:01 PM ^
Agreed. Could see maybe 4 on that list
August 31st, 2023 at 10:27 PM ^
Utah's punter trying to get them a Big Ten invite by himself.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:27 PM ^
First game I have watched this year and yes the clock rule is indeed a garbage change. Longer commercials, so just more money for the people who don't need any more at the expense of the viewer. Also can't see how it is not a net negative for a team like Michigan who wants to play a physical style of game and increases variance if a game has less possessions.
But who knows hopefully Michigan also is more balanced this year and it is less of a net negative. I just will believe the more the balanced thing when we actually see it since we have heard it before.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:37 PM ^
Yep. We are in the 4th Quarter and each team has only had 6 (!!!) possessions! I’m hoping this game is the exception rather than the rule. Statistics show the average NFL game has ~11 possessions per game and the the average CFB game had ~13 per game the past few years. Can CFB get to ~12 with the clock stopping on first downs in the final 2 minutes of each half? Probably not. Reducing games by 2 full possessions per team seems like an awful lot to me, especially when reducing commercials makes so much more sense.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:40 PM ^
Reducing commercials makes sense to us. It’s not even a consideration to the people making decisions that are trying to maximize revenue.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:41 PM ^
Also will reduce big comebacks which are always fun to watch.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:35 PM ^
I mean based on what time it is and how much is on the clock this game is more of less going to take the same amount of time as the average game from last year.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:35 PM ^
Need the Florida Utah over to somehow hit for my +1,500 parlay. Not looking good.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:40 PM ^
Where are the gambling degenerates? No one mentioning ucf scoring with a minute left to go up 55-6 - and hitting the over. Ugh!
August 31st, 2023 at 10:40 PM ^
So we have to start asking if Mo Ibrahim papered over a lot of holes.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:45 PM ^
Looks like that question is answering itself. Woof.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:40 PM ^
Minnesota offense looks very 2008 Michigan like.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:43 PM ^
That was clearly not a catch, but I guess you gotta keep some intrigued going in a blowout.
Also, WTF Minnesota?
August 31st, 2023 at 10:46 PM ^
Hmmm, SEC replay official. Not suspicious at all on a ball that was clearly incomplete.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:47 PM ^
So many commercials and less game time than last year. All hail the new clock rules. /s
August 31st, 2023 at 10:49 PM ^
I love college football and will obviously still watch all Michigan games and some other bigger games around the country but no doubt this crap is going to make me watch less games overall this year. Worse viewing experience so people who already have more money than they can spend in 5 lifetimes can have more, just fantastic.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:47 PM ^
Nice catch by that Florida guy on another bad Mertz throw. SEC replay official bailing them out though.
August 31st, 2023 at 10:51 PM ^
Kaliakmanis' throws are just off frame all the time and stop his WRs.