College Football Today: Kevin Concepcion Building On Great Debut
As we near Week Three, let’s explore what’s happening in college football. Several ex-Michigan players have filed a $50 million lawsuit against the NCAA and Big Ten Network; Deion Sanders‘ kid Shilo, a safety for Colorado, will miss 2-to-3 weeks after forearm surgery; and Auburn QB Payton Thorne says he gets asked for money back from bettors after losses.
Wolfpack Gets Devoured
The Week Two matchup pitting the NC State Wolfpack against Tennessee was expected to be a high scoring affair, with the Volunteers projected to win handily. But 51-10? We’re not sure many saw this one resulting in such a bitch slapping for NC State.
NC State sophomore wide receiver Kevin Concepcion didn’t put up the kind of performance many expected after his fantastic season debut (nine receptions on 14 targets for 121 yards with two receiving TDs and another on the ground — the trio of scores tying the school record for sophomores… in fact, he’s going to make a lot of NC State history before he’s done). Still, he did manage five receptions for over 50 yards giving him a healthy total of 14 catches for 174 yards through the first two games after piling up 839 yards and 10 TDs as a freshman.
Concepcion led the Pack in targets last year, and has already been the recipient of 21 this season, ranking third among qualified skill players in the conference.
Last year’s ACC Rookie of the Year has the strength and explosiveness to be a dominant receiver. If Concepcion maintains this trajectory, he has a chance to be the first WR off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Cam Ward Emerging as Heisman Favourite
Still in the ACC, the 10th ranked Miami Hurricanes look like the team to beat this year (currently listed at +115 to win the ACC Championship Game as per FanDuel).
The Canes opened their season by walking into Florida and blowing the Gators away 41-17 and then — in Miami’s home opener — completely dominating Florida A&M 56-9. That’s some serious steamrolling so far.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Miami quarterback Cam Ward seems to be on a Heisman Trophy trajectory with his early season play. In Saturday’s blowout, the senior tossed three touchdown passes, ran for another, and racked up 304 yards in the air.
Add that to the 385 yards Ward posted in Week One and he’s up to 689 yards already, making him just the third Miami QB in the last quarter century to accumulate at least 600 passing yards through the first two games.
He spent the last two years at Washington State, and while the Cougar system saw him throw less often, he had a strong season in 2023, hurling 25 TD passes. Early on in his Hurricane career, however, Ward is playing at a whole other level. His arrival at Miami has transformed the program’s offense.
This kid is amazingly flexible, allowing him to throw from a range of angles, but he does not have the strongest arm (it’s good, just not great). Expect Ward to be taken on Day Two of the 2025 NFL Draft with the upside to be a starter for a winning squad.
RotoRob Tune of the Day
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers had a 41-year career, ending in 2017 when Petty died. In 1979, they released their third album, breaking through big time with Damn the Torpedoes. The second single from this was “Refugee,” which reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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