The first full weekend of the 2022 college football season lived up to the lofty hype, delivering some dramatic finishes, and plenty of highlight-reel moments.
Here are this week’s most compelling matchups, which are full of some of the top prospects in the 2023 NFL draft class:
No. 1 Alabama vs. Texas
This might be a marquee matchup of historic programs, but on paper, the Crimson Tide should make a cakewalk of this one.
That said, while Bama is loaded with top prospects on both sides of the ball, the Longhorns have an elite talent of their own in Bijan Robinson, the consensus top running back in next year’s draft class.
The Tide shouldn’t have a problem winning this one, but it’s an important test for Robinson to see how he performs against an elite defense.
No. 12 Florida vs. No. 20 Kentucky
Last week, Anthony Richardson looked like Superman as the Gators toppled No. 7 Utah in The Swamp. This week, they’ll try to avenge last year’s road loss to an SEC East foe.
This will be a battle of top quarterback prospects, as Richardson goes toe-to-toe with Kentucky’s Will Levis.
The Wildcats won last year’s matchup despite a lackluster performance from their star passer, and they’ll likely need a much better one to come away with another win (this time on the road).
No. 9 Baylor vs. No. 21 BYU
The night cap for this week’s slate features this ranked non-conference matchup, and the main event for the draft-inclined will by BYU quarterback Jaren Hall, who is still flying under the radar as one of the more intriguing prospects at his position in next year’s class.
Hall and the Cougars weren’t tested much by my alma mater last week in a 50-21 win over USF, but that’s unlikely to be the case against the Bears.
A win for Baylor could plant them firmly in the playoff conversation, while an upset for the Cougars could vault them up the rankings, and help send Hall’s draft stock in the same direction.
No. 19 Wisconsin vs. Washington State
I can’t think of a better measuring stick for Wazzu transfer quarterback Cam Ward than facing the Badgers defense at Camp Randall.
Ward put up huge numbers at Incarnate Word, but this matchup will prove whether or not he’s ready to leap into the conversation among the top quarterback prospects in the 2023 draft class.
If he’s able to have the same kind of success he did last week against Idaho, the Cougars might have something special.
No. 17 Pitt vs. No. 24 Tennessee
This ranked non-conference battle features a showdown between two draft hopefuls at quarterback, with Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker and Pitt’s Kedon Slovis competing for the attention of NFL scouts.
Both looked solid last week, but need to prove they can consistently put up strong numbers while taking care of the football and making sound decisions against tough competition.
Whoever passes that test will see a boost in their draft stock heading into the rest of the season.
No. 10 USC vs. Stanford
This early Pac-12 showdown has a compelling quarterback pairing of its own, but the matchup for draft fans to watch will be happening on the outside.
USC wide receiver Jordan Addison, the star transfer from Pitt, will line up against Stanford cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, son of former NFL cornerback Brian Kelly.
Both are potential first-round prospects in next year’s draft, and this film will be at the top of the list when scouts want to see what either of them are made of.
