Week 1 College Football Recap
As I settle in on this Monday night, just before the Florida State game kicks off, I can’t help but reflect on the overwhelming amount of college football I've consumed this weekend. After diving deep into the film and putting together some cutups, I've noticed a few key trends and takeaways that I’m eager to share in this breakdown of Week 1 of the college football season.
Counter is King
When it comes to scheme, the counter has emerged as the dominant running play in college football. It feels like every game has turned into a chess match of executing the counter versus defending it. Sadly, my Seminoles learned this lesson the hard way.
Related Article: Counter: The Dominant Run Scheme of 2024
Here’s a counter cutup we created from the USC vs LSU game.
12 Personnel is Back
Across the games I've watched, 12 personnel has made a strong resurgence, dominating the offensive landscape. The days of relying heavily on 10 personnel are fading as teams lean into the versatility that athletic tight ends bring to 12 personnel. This setup allows offenses to run counter, power, and split zone (plus its variations) plays all from the same personnel group, with minimal sacrifice in flexibility.
Shifts and Motions
If you’re a defensive coordinator and you’re not drilling your defense on shifts and motions every week, you’re doing them a disservice. The trend is clear—offenses are using motion more than ever before, often combined with a pre-snap shift. It’s a tactic that’s becoming almost universal, so preparation is key.
Best Pressures of the Week
First up on our list of standout pressures this week comes from Michigan. They executed a version of the “Bears” simulated pressure with Tampa 2 coverage behind it. It’s similar to the diagram below, but the beauty of this setup is its flexibility—you drop seven players into coverage, allowing you to run any coverage scheme you choose
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The next pressure we’re spotlighting comes from Boise State, where they dialed up a 5-man blitz with Cover 1 behind it. In this setup, the linebacker mugs the center before looping around to the C-gap, eventually securing the sack. On the side of the wrapping linebacker, the tackle and end execute a pirate stunt, while on the opposite side, they run a jam stunt to keep the pressure relentless.
Our last pressure came from New Mexico in their loss to Montana State. It’s a 6-man pressure with 0 coverage behind it. We cover this is a previous article about New Mexico’s 6-man pressures against Montana State.
Best game you didn’t watch
The title of the best game you probably missed goes to Boise State versus Georgia Southern. This matchup was a thrilling back-and-forth affair, packed with scoring and the occasional flash of solid defense, as highlighted earlier. Georgia Southern showcased a potent passing attack, racking up 322 yards through the air with some creative play-calling, while Boise State put on an offensive clinic, amassing 651 total yards, including a staggering 371 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
Helmet Communication
I’ve been hearing that some college coaches are struggling with the transition to helmet communication, and one question keeps crossing my mind: Why didn’t more colleges bring in former NFL staff to help with the adjustments and offer insights? It seems like a no-brainer heading into the season, yet it feels like this opportunity was overlooked. Am I missing something here?
Teams that look the part and teams that didn’t
Week 1 saw plenty of teams making strong statements, regardless of their opponents. Standouts include Texas, Alabama, Miami, USC, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and several others. On the flip side, the most disappointing team—unfortunately—has to be my alma mater, FSU. If you’re a glutton for punishment, feel free to check out our Florida State page for a full weekly breakdown on the Seminoles. Other teams that underwhelmed include Colorado, where both the offensive and defensive lines still need work, as well as Texas A&M, LSU, Virginia Tech, and Oregon.
All in all, the first week of college football has been a blast—unless you’re an FSU fan. We’ll keep diving into the games from this weekend (we haven’t finished watching them all yet) and will continue bringing you plenty more college football content!