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Mike Norvell: Approach Has Not Changed

Despite an 0-2 start to the 2024 season, which also means an 0-2 start in ACC play, Mike Norvell has shared that his coaching approach has not changed.

“My focus has never been, never, like I don’t care 19 games [in a row], 13-0, it’s never been about the things that are all 10 steps ahead. It’s about today,” Norvell said.

Norvell also shared that at this point, he’s still not concerned about any sort of question of if certain goals are even mathematically possible or not – the goal is to get better every day and for the team to play their best each day.

“We’ve lost two games and I don’t want to waste those losses. I want to make sure that we use those losses to help us be better today.”

Big 12 Pausing Expansion Talks with UConn

The league announced yesterday that it is reportedly pausing the expansion possibility it was seeking with UConn.

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports was the first to share the note from the conference, which had a quote from commissioner Brett Yormark in it:

“As Commissioner, it is my responsibility to explore a variety of value-creating opportunities on behalf of the Big 12. Following detailed discussions with my conference colleagues alongside UConn leadership, we have jointly decided to pause our conversations at this time. We will instead focus our attention and resources to ushering in this new era of college athletics.”

Back when the news broke a couple weeks ago that there was a discussion amongst leadership in the Big 12, it was revealed that the call was more informational in nature. Now, it appears those discussions are on pause for the time being as the season unfolds on the field.

Rhett Lashlee on Using 2 QBs: Nothing Has Changed

Through the first two games, Rhett Lashlee and SMU have been using a 2 QB system between Preston Stone and Kevin Jennings.

Lashlee has said that throughout fall camp and thanks to prior experience, he has gotten to know each player’s tendencies and can therefore switch his play-calling for them appropriately.

“I think they’re both playing at a really good level,” Lashlee said, “they’re both valuing the football. They’re both putting the ball in the endzone when they’re out there a lot. We’ll continue to go as is, and I think BYU should be ready for both of them.”

Lashlee also shared that, “Preston’s our starter. He earned that job. He is the starter. He’s gonna start and he’s gonna play a lot. I still think you’ll see Kevin. … but yeah, nothing’s changed. Preston’s our starter.”

Steve Sarkisian on Preparing for 2 Michigan QBs

During Michigan’s Week 1 game against Fresno State, Michigan showed looks incorporating both QBs Davis Warren and Alex Orji. Warren was given the starting nod and a majority of the opportunity, especially in the passing game, but Orji also received his fair share of snaps, especially as a dual threat.

Steve Sarkisian recently talked to the media about the challenges of preparing for both of them as their matchup in Ann Arbor is only a couple days away:

“The challenge is Davis’ ability to operate their offense. … I think [Warren] definitely has got a good head on his shoulders and can make those necessary checks and different things at the line of scrimmage, protection, changes and so on.”

When considering Orji’s role in the offense, Sarkisian said, “I think it’s critical for us to recognize when [Orji] is in the game, and I think it’s going to be critical for us to recognize when they leave both of them on the field at the same time. We have to be ready for things that maybe they haven’t put on tape yet, and one of which being those two guys on the field together.”

Nebraska LB Javin Wright’s “Really Positive” Injury Update

Nebraska Coach Matt Rhule received a really positive update on the status of LB Javin Wright, though, Coach Rhule shared that there is still no clear timeline for his return.

However, the news Coach Rhule received, which he did not share the specifics of with the media, clearly left him optimistic.

“We got a really positive update on him today so things are trending in the right direction for him to come back at some point sooner than later. … [T]here’s a lot of steps that have to happen. So I don’t want to put the cart before the horse …”

Back when Wright got injured in mid-August, Coach Rhule had ruled him out indefinitely. Now, it sounds like Wright might have some sort of potential timeline for return, at least internally with the training and coaching staff even if that is not public knowledge yet. At the very least, it sounds like Wright is more clearly on a path for returning at some point this season. His return will be something for Nebraska fans, as well as fans of teams on Nebraska’s schedule, to keep tabs on.

Dan Lanning: Boise State’s Defense is Exotic

Oregon is getting ready to host Boise State, and Dan Lanning recently took some time to consider the looks he may see from Boise State’s defense.

And in sharing his thoughts on the Broncos’ defense, Lanning described the Boise State defense as “exotic.”

“They do a lot of different things,” Lanning shared, “I think they create, you know preparation – it makes it tough because of the different units they use and how much they move around. [They] do a really good job mixing coverages and changing things. So it’s a tough one to prepare for.”

Despite these challenging looks to prepare for, Boise State are 19.5 point underdogs and the defense did give up 45 points – 29 of which came in the second half – to Georgia Southern.

Rhett Lashlee: No Pressure on SMU Transitioning to P4

Rhett Lashlee and SMU opened the season with games against Nevada and Houston Christian, but now, for the first time since the Southwest Conference days, SMU will play (at least) 10 consecutive games against a power conference opponent.

When considering the challenges that come with facing that many tough opponents in a row, as well as the pressures and expectations that have come with SMU and the positive trend and buzz the program has been getting in the last few years, Coach Lashlee shared that he’s not feeling any sort of pressure or expectation:

“I think there’s been a lot of buzz around our program, which is great. There’s a lot of overzealous people out there prognosticating what we’re supposed to do. I mean, there’s no pressure on us. We’re not supposed to win these games, right?”

Coach Lashlee also considered the teams who recently transitioned up to the Big 12 last year, pointing out how none of them had a winning record last season.

“To me, we’re the underdog every week. Doesn’t matter what the line says. We’re not supposed to come in and beat everybody. Now, on the flip side, our guys are confident. I think they know that we can compete at this level. I think they feel good that we belong…”

Dabo Swinney: Cade’s Been the Same Guy Every Day

Clemson’s offense only managed 3 points against #1 Georgia in Week 1, and QB Cade Klubnik was fairly ineffectual, only throwing for 142 yards on 18-of-29 passing.

Coach Swinney shared that the blame for the loss does not fall on Klubnik. He defended his QB’s performance, saying that he believed Klubnik saw the field and defense well against what is possibly the best defense in the country.

Coach Swinney also recently took some time to back his QB and the preparation and confidence that Klubnik instills in the team, “he’s really bought into every rep and every practice having a game mindset. … He’s done a great job and has really stepped up as a leader for us. He was great after the game. Right back at it, right back at it – his spirit, his attitude, his leadership is exactly what you want to see.”

Former Coach Jimbo Fisher on What’s Next for FSU, DJ Uiagalelei After 0-2 Start

Jimbo Fisher has been making regular appearances on SiriusXM with former NFL and CFB playing hosts, LSU FB Jacob Hester and FSU QB EJ Manuel.

Manuel asked Fisher if there were any difficult decisions to be made at QB, and how NIL might make the decision difficult. To which, Fisher responded that NIL cannot impact the decision that is made over who is tasked with leading the team.

“You can’t let the NIL be a factor in how you decide on somebody because if that’s the fact, then it was wasted anyway. But it is tough, listen, because you want to give guys opportunities. Just because they make a mistake, you can’t pull them. But at the end of the day, it is what it is.”

As for coach Mike Norvell’s ability, Fisher has no doubt in him: “Listen, Mike’s a heck of a coach. I believe that 1,000% – I think he’s one heck of a football coach, I really do. … He’ll get it right, but they’ve got some very tough decisions. I’m gonna say this, sitting on this end of the mic’s easier than sitting on that side of the mic this time of year.”

Mike Elko on Benching Conner Weigman: Not Human Nature

After Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman struggled mightily in the Aggies’ Week 1 loss to the Fighting Irish, Mike Elko made it clear he is sticking with his QB instead of considering benching him already.

Elko, on The Aggie Football Hour, said that a lot of evaluation went into naming him the starter in the first place, and that’s not something to throw out after one bad game.

“We’ve evaluated about 1,000 quarterback reps since I got hired and it was a competition, and Conner did win it,” Elko shared. Elko also considered the human factor in all of this, “I don’t know that it’s in anybody’s best interest to just pull the plug on a kid the second things aren’t going well. I just don’t know that that’s human nature. We’re dealing with 18- to 21-year-olds. You do the best you can. … It never really crossed our mind to go in a different direction.”

Other Commitments/Decommitments

3-Star (82) DL Lincoln Hoefer commits to Montana

Unrated TE Devon Martin commits to SMU

2026 Unrated IOL Max Merz commits to Louisville