Tag: 2024 College Football Season

One-on-one interview with Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Jaheim Thomas

One-on-one interview with Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Jaheim Thomas

The Wisconsin Badgers football team is two weeks away from their season opener against Western Michigan on Aug. 30. In that time, Arkansas transfer linebacker Jaheim Thomas is gearing up for his first year in Madison.

Thomas, a redshirt senior, transferred to Wisconsin in January after spending the 2023 campaign with the Razorbacks, recording 90 total tackles, 3.5 sacks and two pass deflections over 12 games.

Prior to ending up at Arkansas, the linebacker spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Cincinnati under current Badgers head coach Luke Fickell and defensive coordinator Mike Tressel.

“Not a lot has changed. We have got a lot more intense since I’ve been here. That’s one thing I like. Makes sure guys are on their toes every single day, you have to bring it every single day,” Thomas explained.

The Badgers’ defense struggled to get pressure on the quarterback in 2023, finishing the season with 29.0 total team sacks, which ranked tied for 56th in the nation. Thomas believes that the team has committed to raising their sack numbers in 2024.

“That’s what we pride ourselves on. That’s one thing that when I got here, I talked to guys like DP (Darryl Peterson), John (Pius), Leon (Lowery),  Aaron Witt. We want to get to the quarterback, we want to have a whole lot more sacks this year,” Thomas said.

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Wisconsin will open their season by hosting Western Michigan (Aug. 30) and South Dakota (Sept. 7) before they’ll face a major test with Alabama coming to town Sept. 14.

One-on-one interview with Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tyler Van Dyke

One-on-one interview with Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Tyler Van Dyke

The Wisconsin Badgers football team held another training camp practice in Madison on Wednesday. It ended up being a rather notable one.

Following the conclusion of practice, offensive coordinator Phil Longo officially named Miami transfer quarterback Tyler Van Dyke as the team’s starter.

Van Dyke transferred to Wisconsin this offseason after spending four seasons at Miami, including three years as a starter.

After a disappointing 2023 campaign in which he compiled 19 passing touchdowns and a career-high 12 interceptions while compiling 2,703 passing yards over 11 games, the quarterback appreciates his opportunity with Wisconsin.

“It means a lot. It shows the coaches have confidence in me to get the job done. Shows the players have confidence in me as well,” Van Dyke explained.

He was in a position battle with redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke, ultimately edging Locke out for the starting role.

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Van Dyke has faced his fair share of adversity in his career, whether with injury or with his role, something he thinks is valuable.

“You never want to go through your career with straight no adversity and everything is good. You have got to fight through adversity and I’m thankful for it,” the quarterback outlined.

Van Dyke will make his Wisconsin debut when the team begins it’s season in just over two weeks on Aug. 30 at home against Western Michigan.

One-on-one interview with Wisconsin Badgers safety Hunter Wohler

One-on-one interview with Wisconsin Badgers safety Hunter Wohler

The Wisconsin Badgers football team returned to practice at Camp Randall Stadium on Tuesday after spending two weeks at an off-site camp at UW-Platteville. They’ll ramp up their game preparation over the next few weeks before beginning the season on Aug. 30 against Western Michigan.

Senior safety Hunter Wohler is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he recorded 120 total tackles, including a sack, while also securing two interceptions and six pass deflections. His performance led to him being selected as a First Team All-Big Ten (AP) member.

Wohler was kind enough to field a few questions from us following practice Monday, explaining how an improved linebackers group impacts him and the rest of the secondary.

“It frees us up to play loose and go make plays. Third downs especially, it can put some pressure on the quarterback and make them make stupid decisions. We can take advantage of that,” Wohler detailed.

This offseason, the Badgers hired Alex Grinch to become their safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator, a decision that Wohler certainly endorses.

“Great dude. Great coach. He understands the position really well,” Wohler continued, “He challenges us heavily. Him being around has forced us to be better and take ownership of what we’re doing.”

Wohler had the opportunity to make the jump to the NFL following his junior season, but he decided to stick around and try and finish what he started at Wisconsin. He’ll look to build off of his monster year in 2023 when the Badgers officially kick off their season in 16 days.

Texas Tech WR Micah Hudson among impact freshmen in 2024

No. 1 will be a must-see player during the 2024 season.

It isn’t too often you see a player the caliber of Micah Hudson on the South Plains in Lubbock, Texas, playing for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. In fact, Hudson is the first five-star signee in school history. One could bank on Hudson being on full display this fall in the Zach Kittley offense.

Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports released his list of impact freshman and Hudson was among several wide receivers listed including Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Auburn’s Cam Coleman. You probably could throw Alabama’s Ryan Williams into the mix as well. No matter how you slice it, there are a lot of freshman wideouts who could make an impact this season.

What Myerberg Says…

That Hudson was slowed in the spring as he recovered from knee surgery makes it hard to say exactly what role he’ll play for Texas Tech as a freshman — whether he’ll see more spans as an inside receiver or on the outside, for example. But to be clear: Hudson is going to play a ton for the Red Raiders after choosing Tech over offers from every major program in the FBS. He has a chance to be a “generational player,” as coach Joey McGuire said at Big 12 media days.

Whether or not he plays inside or outside is irrelevant, the only thing that Behren Morton needs to do is get the ball into the hands of Hudson and let him cook.

Full list of impact freshman from Myerberg:

  • Jeremiah Smith, WR: Ohio State
  • Dylan Raiola, QB: Nebraska
  • Ellis Robinson IV, CB: Georgia
  • Cam Coleman, WR: Auburn
  • Rhys Dakin, P: Iowa
  • Williams Nwaneri, DE: Missouri
  • Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, LB: Notre Dame
  • Jordan Seaton, OT: Colorado
  • Dylan Stewart, Edge: South Carolina
  • Micah Hudson, WR: Texas Tech

Oklahoma Sooners to face six teams in the preseason AP Top 25

The Oklahoma Sooners will face six teams in the top 15 of the preseason AP Top 25.

The Oklahoma Sooners enter the 2024 season in unfamiliar territory as they enter the SEC. Still one of the top 25 teams in the nation, they aren’t considered one of the favorites to win their conference.

Such is life in the SEC, the home of the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide.

With the start of the 2024 season two weeks away, the preseason AP top 25 was released and the Oklahoma Sooners came in at No. 16. That’s also where they landed in the US LBM Coaches Poll. And like the Coaches Poll, the Sooners were the eighth highest-ranked team among SEC schools.

Coming in at No. 1, earning 46 of the possible 62 first-place votes, are the Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia’s hoping to regain its spot atop college football after losing to Alabama in the SEC title game in 2023 and missing the College Football Playoff.

The Ohio State Buckeyes are No. 2, earning 15 first-place votes, followed by the Oregon Ducks, who earned one first place vote. The Texas Longhorns came in at No. 4 followed by the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Sooners play six teams in the top 15. Along with Texas and Alabama, OU will take on No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 11 Missouri and No. 13 LSU. The Sooners open SEC play by hosting No. 15 Tennessee.

It’s a daunting schedule that will be must-see television throughout the 2024 season. But the Oklahoma Sooners have built a roster that has a chance to contend with the best in the conference this season. Led by a defense that features All-Americans and future NFL draft picks, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has a unit that can lead the way in 2024.

A look at the full preseason AP Poll:

Ranking Team Points
1 Georgia Bulldogs 1,532 (46)
2 Ohio State Buckeyes 1,490 (15)
3 Oregon Ducks 1,403 (1)
4 Texas Longhorns 1,386
5 Alabama Crimson Tide 1,260
6 Ole Miss Rebels 1,189
7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1,122
8 Penn State Nittany Lions 1,060
9 Michigan Wolverines 995
10 Florida State Seminoles 971
11 Missouri Tigers 927
12 Utah Utes 887
13 LSU Tigers 804
14 Clemson Tigers 689
15 Tennessee Volunteers 629
16 Oklahoma Sooners 566
17 Oklahoma State Cowboys 538
18 Kansas State Wildcats 526
19 Miami Hurricanes 492
20 Texas A&M Aggies 292
21 Arizona Wildcats 237
22 Kansas Jayhawks 231
23 USC Trojans 172
24 North Carolina State Wolfpack 171
25 Iowa Hawkeyes 140

Others Receiving Votes

Louisville 111, Virginia Tech 77, Boise St. 47, SMU 33, Iowa St. 33, Liberty 32, Washington 23, West Virginia 17, Memphis 16, Nebraska 16, Wisconsin 15, UTSA 6, Tulane 5, Appalachian St. 4, Kentucky 3, Auburn 2, Colorado 1.

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The 2024 preseason AP Poll revealed two weeks before the season begins

Check out which teams cracked the preseason AP poll top 25.

The preseason polls are coming fast and furious, which indicates the start of the college football season is fast approaching. Last week the US LBM Coaches Poll was released and this week we have the AP poll. Ultimately, the CFP poll will determine postseason berths, but we get an idea of where teams are slated ahead of the season.

Some teams will be overrated and some will be vastly underrated. It will be some time into the season before we really get a feel for some teams that were ranked by the Associated Press voters and some who were left outside the top 25.

A look at the full preseason AP Poll:

Ranking Team Points
1 Georgia Bulldogs 1,532 (46)
2 Ohio State Buckeyes 1,490 (15)
3 Oregon Ducks 1,403 (1)
4 Texas Longhorns 1,386
5 Alabama Crimson Tide 1,260
6 Ole Miss Rebels 1,189
7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 1,122
8 Penn State Nittany Lions 1,060
9 Michigan Wolverines 995
10 Florida State Seminoles 971
11 Missouri Tigers 927
12 Utah Utes 887
13 LSU Tigers 804
14 Clemson Tigers 689
15 Tennessee Volunteers 629
16 Oklahoma Sooners 566
17 Oklahoma State Cowboys 538
18 Kansas State Wildcats 526
19 Miami Hurricanes 492
20 Texas A&M Aggies 292
21 Arizona Wildcats 237
22 Kansas Jayhawks 231
23 USC Trojans 172
24 North Carolina State Wolfpack 171
25 Iowa Hawkeyes 140

Others Receiving Votes

Louisville 111, Virginia Tech 77, Boise St. 47, SMU 33, Iowa St. 33, Liberty 32, Washington 23, West Virginia 17, Memphis 16, Nebraska 16, Wisconsin 15, UTSA 6, Tulane 5, Appalachian St. 4, Kentucky 3, Auburn 2, Colorado 1.

One-on-one interview with Wisconsin Badgers kicker Nathanial Vakos

One-on-one interview with Wisconsin Badgers kicker Nathanial Vakos

The Wisconsin Badgers football team will begin their regular season at Camp Randall Stadium against Western Michigan on Aug. 30. That date is moving closer and closer, as the team wrapped up its fall camp at UW-Platteville on Sunday.

Junior Nathanial Vakos is entering his second season as the team’s primary placekicker after he went 15-for-19 on field-goal attempts last season, going 14-15 from inside 50 yards. Additionally, he was a perfect 34-for-34 on extra-point tries.

Vakos took a few minutes to chat with us following the Badgers’ eighth practice at UW-Platteville, detailing how he’s geared up to make deep kicks in 2024.

“Something I’ve felt always confident in is my ability to make deep kicks. I’ve always been confident, it’s just been working those more. I feel like we’ve started to repitize more deep field goals, which is what I’ve been wanting to work on,” Vakos explained.

Vakos transferred to Wisconsin from Ohio prior to the 2023 campaign and the Badgers went 7-6 in his first year with the team. The kicker feels like this season will be even better.

“Coming into this year, I think we have a lot more talent. We picked up a lot of good transfers,” Vakos continued, “From last year they really tightened down on us, wanting more, always trying to push us more.”

The upcoming season is the team’s second under head coach Luke Fickell and the fans will be treated to a schedule full of marquee matchups with programs like Alabama, USC, Penn State and Oregon.

A significant update to Wisconsin’s quarterback battle entering 2024

Wisconsin quarterback takes edge in position battle at open practice

The Wisconsin Badgers football team held their 10th and final practice of their fall camp at UW-Platteville on Sunday. The team is now returning to campus in Madison for two final weeks of preparation before opening the season on Aug. 30 against Western Michigan.

The program will have its third starting quarterback in three years this season and to this point, it’s been a battle between graduate transfer Tyler Van Dyke (transfer, Miami) and redshirt sophomore Braedyn Locke.

Van Dyke may have taken official command as the favorite to handle the starting role on Sunday, as he handled all of the first-team snaps in the final practice of the team’s satellite camp.

The veteran quarterback previously spent three seasons as the starting quarterback for the Hurricanes, compiling 7,469 total passing yards and 54 touchdowns over 30 games. He showed regression in 2023, tossing a career-high 12 interceptions while being benched for freshman Emory Williams at one point.

Now under offensive coordinator Phil Longo and his air raid offense scheme, Van Dyke will look to put together a resurgent final collegiate season.

Despite the clear step toward Van Dyke taking the No. 1 job, Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell was not ready to officially name him the starter on Sunday. That may have to wait until the first game-week depth chart is released in two weeks.

How many games can Duke lose and still contend for the College Football Playoff?

The College Football Playoff might not be where Duke football fans have their sights set for 2024, but what would the Blue Devils need?

Football fans in Durham don’t seem incredibly focused on the College Football Playoff.

It’s hard to blame them. The Duke Blue Devils changed their head coach this offseason, bringing in Manny Diaz from Penn State, and the coaching staff is still deciding between Maalik Murphy and Grayson Loftis at quarterback.

However, the CFP expanded from four teams to 12 for the 2024 season, and that introduces at-large bids for the Power Four conferences. There’s no Florida State situation this year. If Duke wins the ACC this season, they make the bracket, no questions asked.

However, there are more than a half-dozen spots up for grabs between the best non-conference champions in the country. The ACC justifiably feels like an afterthought after the way the Seminoles were handled by the committee last year, but the additional spots make it more likely than not that the conference sends multiple teams to the bracket.

So, take a walk down the path of optimism with me here. How can the Blue Devils possibly establish themselves as the next-best team in the ACC? Just throw away the argument of winning the conference for this exercise because it’s an auto-bid, but Diaz and his team actually control their own destiny if you believe multiple ACC teams can make the CFP.

The Blue Devils play Florida State, Miami, and NC State this season, three of the top four preseason favorites to win the conference. If Duke finds a way to beat all three of those teams, or at least two of them, while winning 10 games, they’ll at least deserve a segment on ESPN ahead of the selection show.

The best-case scenario for Blue Devils fans, however ridiculously optimistic, is an undefeated regular season and a conference championship game loss to Clemson. Honestly, any situation with Clemson winning the ACC works in Duke’s favor since they aren’t on the slate. Head-to-head victories against the other best teams in the conference with a no-contest against the eventual champion is a solid case for the second spot in the power rankings.

However, if the Blue Devils lose to any of the three teams listed above (or SMU) and that team moves on to win the conference, that path also leaves Duke in contention.

Unfortunately, given the strength of the SEC and Big Ten now and Duke’s reputation as a football program, I don’t think the Blue Devils make the top 12 with 10 wins unless they take the conference title. Two regular-season losses likely spell the end of Diaz’s chances for an at-large bid.

An 11-1 regular season might sound like a fantasy given the last thirty years of Duke football and the current unknowns around the program. However, if the Blue Devils win their first six games on the schedule (which is more than possible if they knock off UNC), they’ll host Florida State with a chance to genuinely vault themselves into the discussion.

Senior punter Brian Buschini named to Ray Guy Award watch list for third straight year

Senior punter Brian Buschini was named to the Ray Guy Award watch list.

A Husker enters the 2024 football season with his name on an award watchlist for the third straight year. Senior punter Brian Buschini was named to the Ray Guy Award watch list.

Buschini is one of 34 punters nationally named to the preseason watch list Friday. The Ray Guy Award is presented to the nation’s top punter in the FBS. The winner will be announced during ESPN’s Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.

In his collegiate career, the Helena, Montana native has averaged 43.7 yards per punt. Buschini has been the starter for the Huskers in the past two seasons. Last year, he averaged 40.7 yards on 57 punts, landing 20 of his 57 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

In his first season at Nebraska, he averaged 44.0 yards per punt, ranking eighth in Husker history and 25th in the nation. He delivered 16 punts of 50 yards or longer, including a 74-yard punt against Wisconsin that ranked seventh-longest in school history.

Before arriving at Nebraska, Buschini spent three seasons at Montana from 2019 to 2021. In his final season with the Grizzlies, Buschini won FCS Punter of the Year and was named first-team All-American. He averaged 46.0 yards per punt and helped Montana lead the FCS in net punting average.

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