Counter: The Dominant Run Scheme of 2024

Early in the season, counter has emerged as the undisputed king of run schemes. In nearly every game I've watched, especially in the Power 5 conferences, the strategic battle has centered around executing and defending against the counter. In this article, we'll break down every version of the counter we've seen so far—though keep in mind, we’re still catching up on a few Week 1 games.

Unbalanced GT Counter

Empty Orbit GY Counter

Jet Motion GY Counter

More GY Counter (Because of the view)

Slot Motion GF Counter

GH Counter

Escort Motion GY Counter

Escort Motion Q GY Counter

GT Counter Read

GY Counter (With inline TE)

Push Motion GY Counter

Q Counter Bash

Will counter continue to reign supreme in Week 2? Time will tell, but one thing is certain: defenses must be prepared to face it head-on. The prevalence of counter in Week 1 has shown that it’s not just a trend—it's a foundational aspect of many teams' offensive strategies. As we move forward, opposing defenses will need to adapt quickly or risk being outmaneuvered on the ground. Whether counter remains the dominant force or teams find ways to neutralize it, one thing is clear: the chess match between offenses and defenses is just beginning, and counter is the opening move everyone needs to prepare for.