College football Week 1 preview: Big names coming back from injury and freshmen to know
Week 1 is finally here. There is plenty to know going into Thursday’s 21 matchups and the games that will be played this weekend. Some notable names will make their returns after suffering major injuries last season, and many freshmen will have their first chance to show out on the field. Plus, what were coaches saying this offseason?
Utah quarterback Cam Rising is coming off of a knee injury that sidelined him last season, but don’t forget he led Utah to back-to-back Pac-12 championships. Can he do the same for the Utes in their first year in the Big 12 Conference? And can Alabama freshman cornerback Zabien Brown earn a starting role this season?
Our reporters break down records that could be broken this season, five freshmen to know and other big topics entering Week 1.
Big names who are back from injury
Utah‘s Cam Rising:
Cam Rising’s absence last season because of a major knee injury — sustained in the Rose Bowl the season before — took the Utes off track before they had a chance to really get going. Rising’s return should immediately return the Utes to the nation’s elite, given how successful they were in his previous two seasons as the starting quarterback. Remember, both of those seasons ended with trips to Pasadena.
In 2021, he was the first-team All-Pac-12 quarterback when he guided the Utes to the conference title. They repeated as champions in 2022, and although Rising was relegated to honorable mention all-conference honors, his stats — 3,034 yards passing, 26 touchdown passes, 8 interceptions — were just as good. With a talented receiving corps, Rising should go out with another productive season as Utah tries to make a name for itself in the Big 12. — Kyle Bonagura
The Weigman era in College Station has been one of promise but also frustration. He set a Texas A&M true freshman record in his first start in 2022 with 338 yards passing, throwing four touchdowns against Ole Miss before throwing two touchdowns in an upset of No. 6 LSU at the end of a 5-7 season. He began last season by throwing five touchdown passes in the opener against New Mexico.
He played three complete games last year and looked the part of the No. 27 overall prospect in the 2022 class, throwing for 909 yards, 8 TDs and 2 interceptions, but a foot injury against Auburn ended his season as the Aggies limped to a 7-6 finish. New coach Mike Elko lured Collin Klein from Klein’s alma mater, Kansas State, to revitalize the offense, and his first order of business was to fix an offensive line that has struggled to keep Weigman and his other QBs upright. Weigman said this week that he’s finally back to 100 percent and is ready to get to work. “It’s been a long time coming,” he said. “I can’t wait to be out there Aug. 31st.” — Dave Wilson
Although it wasn’t technically his final game in a Duke uniform, the Riley Leonard era in Durham unofficially ended with a final heave and a brutal tackle in a 21-14 loss to Notre Dame last September. He came back from an ankle injury to hobble through two more games, but the magic was gone.
Coincidentally, that injury led him from the losing sideline to the winning one, with Leonard transferring to Notre Dame in December. He sat out spring practice but insists his ankle is fully healed and stronger than before, which means the Irish have a potential superstar at QB. In 2022, the last season he was fully healthy, Leonard was one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, throwing 20 touchdowns and running for 13 more. — David Hale
Five freshmen to watch
Jeremiah Smith, wide receiver, Ohio State: The dynamic pass catcher will start alongside returners Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate against Akron in Week 1. For all the elite wide receiver talent at Ohio State lately, Chris Carter still holds the program’s freshman receiving records for catches (41), yards (648) and touchdowns (eight) set in 1984. Could Smith — expected to be relied upon heavily by the Buckeyes — make a run at those marks in 2024?
Jordan Seaton, left tackle, Colorado: Seaton’s Year 1 transition is an intriguing layer within one of college football’s most fascinating stories. The five-star tackle is a definite upgrade on a Colorado offensive line that struggled to protect Shedeur Sanders in 2023. But like most freshman offensive linemen, Seaton probably will experience ups and downs. Can he mature quickly and minimize mistakes across a highly anticipated fall in Boulder?
KJ Bolden, safety, Georgia: The 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back has impressed as a playmaker since arriving in Athens as a midyear enrollee. Coach Kirby Smart is keeping his depth chart a secret ahead of Georgia’s Week 1 opener against Clemson, but Bolden is certain to see early playing time in the secondary, and he might be pushing for a starting role by the back half of the season as the Bulldogs’ latest standout freshman contributor.
Jayden Jackson, defensive tackle, Oklahoma: Brent Venables has compared Jackson to former Sooners nose guard Dusty Dvoracek and this month praised the first-year defender’s “different level of maturity.” It’s part of why Jackson is slated to start alongside veteran TCU transfer Damonic Williams in Week 1 against Temple. Time will tell on Jackson’s readiness to battle SEC offensive lines, but his 6-2, 300-pound frame will make him an immediate impact run defender.
Zabien Brown, cornerback, Alabama: The Crimson Tide return without six cornerbacks from last fall, needing to replace starters at both corner spots. The obvious candidates for those roles are Alabama-experienced transfers Domani Jackson (USC) and DaShawn Jones (Wake Forest). But Brown — one of the Crimson Tide’s three top-100 defensive back signees in 2024 — has wowed the coaching staff in Tuscaloosa and should feature early and often, whether he ends up earning starting duties somewhere along the way this fall. — Eli Lederman
Notable offseason quotes
“Honestly, every player is technically a transfer. We just signed a whole class of guys transferring from high school.” — Clemson‘s Dabo Swinney on the school’s lack of additions via the transfer portal.
“We’re paying players.” — Baylor coach Dave Aranda, on how the Bears improved recruiting.
“I don’t have bad days, man. I may have a bad moment, maybe even a bad hour, but never a bad day. I don’t. Cause I set my own thermostat.” — Colorado coach Deion Sanders to rapper Lil Wayne.
“In Hebrews it says, ‘Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.’ I’ve got all the faith in the world in the people in our building.” — Florida coach Billy Napier ahead of a critical third season with the Gators.
Records that could be broken this season
Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel has four 3,000-yard passing seasons on his résumé already, but if he could reach 4,000 in 2024 — or, more specifically, 4,353 — he would pass Case Keenum as the all-time passing yards leader in FBS history. Is that a long shot? It’s worth noting that Bo Nix, Oregon’s QB last season, threw for 4,508 yards, and if the Ducks live up to expectations, there’s a scenario in which Gabriel has 15 games to hit that mark. — Hale
The NCAA record for most wins in a season is a three-way tie at 16 between William Rhodes of Yale in 1894, Amos Alonzo Stagg of Chicago in 1899 and Yale’s Walter Camp in 1899. Teams could play 17 games this season between a regular season, a conference title game, and potentially four playoff games (18 games if they play Hawai’i and get an exemption). There’s a fair bet someone could tie or surpass that mark in the near future. — Wilson
This isn’t technically tracked by the NCAA for record-keeping purposes, but there appears to be a chance that the career games played record could fall this year. Unofficially, the record stands at 69 games, a tie between Minnesota‘s Nyles Pinckney (2016-21) and the Clemson trio of James Skalski (2016-21), Will Spiers (2016-21) and Will Swinney (2017-21). UTSA‘s Oscar Cardenas enters this season with 57 games played (thanks to four games in his redshirt season, plus 12 games in the Covid 2020 season), meaning that 70 games is feasible. He’ll have to stay healthy, of course, and UTSA will have to reach a bowl game, but the purported record is in play. It’s possible other players are in the mix, too, but participation stats are not as readily available en masse like most stats. — Bonagura
Let’s talk place-kickers. Since 1956, only three have eclipsed 90 career made field goals: NC State‘s Christopher Dunn (97 in 2018-22), Arizona State‘s Zane Gonzalez (96 in 2013-16) and Auburn’s Daniel Carlson (92 in 2014-17). This fall, however, Boise State‘s Jonah Dalmas is in position to reach that group, and then to pass them all. The Broncos’ fifth-year kicker enters 2024 with 80 career field goals, only 17 shy of Dunn’s career NCAA record. A two-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist, Dalmas has logged at least 23 made field goals in each of his three seasons as Boise State’s full-time kicker. There’s a good chance he’ll clear 100 career field goals this fall and to close the season as the NCAA’s all-time field goal king. — Lederman
It seems such a short time ago that all 16 teams began the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs with a clean slate. On Tuesday night, two teams could have their postseason runs ended.
Can both teams stave off elimination to get another home game out of the 2025 postseason?
Meanwhile in the Western Conference, both series involving Pacific Division teams are tied 2-2 heading back to the higher seed’s domain. Which teams will take pivotal Games 5 in Vegas Golden Knights–Minnesota Wild and Los Angeles Kings–Edmonton Oilers?
Read on for game previews with statistical insights from ESPN Research, recaps of what went down in Monday’s games, and the Three Stars of Monday Night from Arda Öcal.
Matchup notes
Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs
Game 5 (TOR leads 3-1) | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
Games 2-4 marked the 11th time in the past 20 years that teams have gone to overtime three straight times in a playoff series.
Jake Sanderson‘s game-winning overtime goal was the first of his career, and he became the ninth defenseman age 22 or younger with an OT goal in the playoffs (and the first for the Senators).
Veteran David Perron scored his first playoff goal with the Senators, the fourth team with which he has scored a postseason goal (Blues, Golden Knights, Ducks).
Matthew Knies scored his sixth career playoff goal, which is tied for the fourth most by a Maple Leafs player age 22 or younger since 1976-77, behind Auston Matthews (12), Wendel Clark (11) and Russ Courtnall (8).
Toronto defensemen have scored five goals this postseason, the most by any team, a surprising outcome given that the Leafs had the fewest goals by defensemen in the regular season (21).
New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes
Game 5 (CAR leads 3-1) | 7:30 p.m. ET | TBS
The Devils have outscored the Hurricanes at 5-on-5 in the series (7-5), but trail on their own power plays (0-1), the Canes’ power plays (0-4) and when the net is empty (0-2).
Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen was knocked out of Game 4 following a collision with Devils forward Timo Meier. Meier has not scored on Andersen during this series, but scored on his first shot on goal against backup goalie Pyotr Kochetkov.
Andersen’s status is up in the air for Game 5, but he is the current leader among playoff goaltenders in goals-against average (1.59) this postseason, and is second among qualified goalies in save percentage (.936).
Andrei Svechnikov scored his second career playoff hat trick in Game 4. He has two for his career and is the only player in Hurricanes/Whalers franchise history to score a playoff hat trick.
Minnesota Wild at Vegas Golden Knights
Game 5 (series tied 2-2) | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
Game 4 broke one streak and continued another. Ivan Barbashev‘s OT winner snapped a three-game losing streak for Vegas in playoff OT games, while the loss for Minnesota makes it five straight defeats in home playoff games that go to the extra session.
Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson made 42 saves in the loss, his second career playoff game with 40 or more. He is the only goaltender in franchise history with multiple 40-save games in the playoffs.
Kirill Kaprizov registered an assist in the Game 4 loss, giving him eight points in four games this postseason, one behind the leaders.
Vegas forward Tomas Hertl is on a heater. His goal in Game 4 is his third this postseason, and he has eight goals in his past nine games going back to March 22.
The Wild have been mostly effective at keeping Jack Eichel off the score sheet. He had one assist in Game 4, his first point of the series after a team-leading 94 points in the regular season.
Edmonton Oilers at Los Angeles Kings
Game 5 (series tied 2-2) | 10 p.m. ET | TBS
With his two-goal outing in Game 4, Evan Bouchard became the fourth defenseman in Stanley Cup playoff history to have back-to-back multigoal games, joining Rob Blake (2002), Al Iafrate (1993) and Denis Potvin (1981).
Leon Draisaitl — who scored the OT game winner in Game 4 — now has eight four-point games in his playoff career. That’s the fourth most in Oilers history, behind Wayne Gretzky (20), Mark Messier (10) and Jari Kurri (10).
Tied with Draisaitl for the playoff scoring lead is Kings winger Adrian Kempe, who is also tied for the goals lead with four. Kempe had 19 total points in 22 previous playoff games, all with the Kings.
Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper has been busy, facing 134 shots, which is the second most among postseason goaltenders (Gustavsson is first with 136). Kuemper’s current .881 save percentage is the second worst of his playoff career, narrowly ahead of the .879 he generated while backstopping the Wild for two games in the 2013 playoffs.
Arda’s three stars from Monday night
Johnston scored his first goal of the 2025 postseason nine seconds in, which is tied for the fifth fastest goal to start a game in Stanley Cup playoff history. He had himself a night, with two goals and an assist in the Stars’ win.
Rantanen scored his first postseason goal with the Stars against his old team. Rantanen became the seventh different player in NHL history to score a playoff goal against a team with which he previously tallied 100-plus postseason points. The others: Jaromir Jagr (2012 and 2008 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins), Brett Hull (2002, 2001, and 1999 vs. St. Louis Blues), Wayne Gretzky (1992, 1990, 1989 vs. Edmonton Oilers), Jari Kurri (1992 vs. Oilers), Paul Coffey (1992 vs. Oilers) and Bernie Geoffrion (1967 vs. Montreal Canadiens).
His postgame quotes keep getting better and better, to the point where he deserves a star for saying, “I’m sick of talking about hits” — then asking the media for their thoughts. Love it.
Monday’s scores
Florida Panthers 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 2
FLA leads 3-1 | Game 5 Wednesday
After an exciting, but scoreless, first period, the game heated up even more in the second. Anton Lundell opened the scoring for the Panthers, and Aaron Ekblad delivered a vicious hit to Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel; the call was not penalized on the ice, and Hagel would have to leave the game. Thereafter, the Lightning scored two goals within 11 seconds from Mitchell Chaffee and Erik Cernak to take the lead well into the third period. But then in another span of 11 seconds, the Panthers pulled off the same feat, with goals by Ekblad and Seth Jones, sending the building into a frenzy. Carter Verhaeghe added an empty-netter for insurance. Full recap.
1:21
Panthers match Lightning with 2 goals in 11 seconds to take lead
Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones score within 11 seconds of each other as the Panthers grab a late lead in the third period.
Dallas Stars 6, Colorado Avalanche 2
DAL leads 3-2 | Game 6 Thursday
As wild as the opening game was Monday night, this one looked to be going down the same road early. Dallas’ Wyatt Johnston scored nine seconds into the game, which is the fastest goal ever to start a playoff game in Stars franchise history. Fellow young Star Thomas Harley joined him on the scoresheet with 45 seconds left in the first. From there on, Dallas kept Colorado at arm’s length, with a second-period goal from Mikko Rantanen, another from Johnston and one from Mason Marchment, followed by an empty-netter from Roope Hintz to put an exclamation point on the proceedings. Artturi Lehkonen and Nathan MacKinnon scored in the second period, but that was not nearly enough on this night. Full recap.
0:34
Stars score in first 9 seconds of the game
Wyatt Johnston wastes no time as he finds the net within nine seconds of play for a Stars goal against the Avalanche.
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Greg Wyshynski
Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad will have a hearing Tuesday with the NHL Department of Player Safety for elbowing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel in the head in Game 4 of their series Monday night.
Hagel won’t play in Wednesday’s Game 5.
“He’s not playing tomorrow. And you know why,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper on Tuesday.
Ekblad’s hearing will be held remotely.
With less than nine minutes left in the second period of Florida’s 4-2 victory, Hagel played the puck out of the Tampa Bay zone near the boards. Ekblad skated in on him and delivered a hit with his right forearm that made contact with Hagel’s head, shoving Hagel down in the process. The back of Hagel’s head bounced off the ice. He was pulled from the game because of concussion concerns and didn’t return to the bench.
Ekblad wasn’t penalized for the hit and remained in the game. He would play a critical role in the Panthers’ late-game rally to take a 3-1 series lead, tying the game with 3:47 left in regulation before Florida defenseman Seth Jones scored the winner 11 seconds later.
Hagel returned to the Lightning lineup in Game 4 after serving a one-game suspension for interference on Florida captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2. The NHL ruled that Barkov wasn’t eligible to be hit and that Hagel made head contact with him, which forced Barkov out of the game. Barkov returned to the Florida lineup for Game 3, which the Lightning won in Hagel’s absence.
“It’s getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single game,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said after the game before asking media members whether they had anything to say about Ekblad’s check, with no takers. “All right, let’s move on,” he said.
Ekblad missed the first two games of the playoffs after he was suspended 20 games without pay in March for violating the NHL and NHL Players’ Association’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
The Department of Player Safety did make a ruling on Florida defenseman Niko Mikkola, who received a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for boarding Tampa Bay’s Zemgus Girgensons in Game 4. Mikkola was fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the NHL CBA, but escaped suspension.
Cooper said the physicality of “The Battle of Florida” shouldn’t come as a surprise
“Players are missing games because of it, whether it’s physically or by the league. So it’s going to be talked about. But if anybody’s followed Tampa and Florida over the last five or six years, this is kind of how these series are. This one is a little different because of the major things that have happened, but these are hard-fought series,” he said.
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