We’re back with more college football coverage, this week focusing on the following: Ole Miss was miffed about Wake Forest replacing a 2025 scheduled game against the Rebels; Clemson, FSU and the ACC have resparked conversations about the bigger schools getting a greater slice of the revenue pie; and Georgia has lost All-American guard Tate Ratledge for 4-to-6 weeks thanks to ankle surgery.

Illinois Faces Another Big Challenge

After a disappointing 2023 season (5-7), the Illinois Fighting Illini have bounced back big time so far this season, getting off to a 3-0 start to rank third in the Big Ten and No. 24 in the country.

Okay, so two of the wins involved preying on weaker opponents (Eastern Illinois and Central Michigan), but sandwiched between those games was a huge victory over 19th-ranked Kansas.

So we know the Illini is capable of beating top competition, and now we’ll find out if lightning can strike twice as they take on No. 22 Nebraska on Friday, the first of four matchups pitting top 25 teams against each other in what should be a fascinating Week Four as far as CFP ramifications are concerned.

Senior wide receiver Pat Bryant came up huge in Week Three, hauling in a pair of touchdown passes among his seven catches for over 100 yards. He managed to get wide open for his first TD, and then showed an amazing ability to shake off defenders on the second score (see video below).

Bryant has increased his yardage total each week, and has enjoyed multi-touchdown games twice already. Last year, he had a career-best 560 yards receiving, but his average yards per catch dropped for the second straight season. With 15 receptions for 235 yards to date, Bryant is poised for a breakout season that could put him on the NFL draft radar.

He keeps outperforming expectations thanks to solid speed both off the line and in the open field. A probable third day draft pick or UDFA, with further development Bryant could ultimately be an average or better NFL starter.

Jaguars Shaking Off Slow Start

Two seasons ago, the South Alabama Jaguars had the best season of their fairly young career (they started play in 2012), winning 10 games while making a Bowl game. While they slipped to just seven wins last year, they did win a Bowl game for the first time in school history.

Things were looking up for the Jags.

Unfortunately, they’re off to a rough start in 2024 (1-2), but have improved each week, losing the opener by two TDs, dropping their second by just one touchdown and then pummeling Northweatern State 87-10 last week for their first win of the year.

Things may prove tougher for South Alabama this week as it begins Conference play at Appalachian State as 7.5-point ‘dogs as per FanDuel.

Last week’s win — the first in the Major Applewhite era — was a coming out party for redshirt freshman quarterback Gio Lopez. Lopez connected for four touchdown passes while completing 15-of-19 for over 250 yards. He looked solid in the opener, missed Week Two with turf toe, but then showed no rust in playing brilliantly last week.

Lopez saw a bit of action last year, and showed promise in racking up 475 yards and then enjoying a huge showing to earn MVP of the 68 Ventures Bowl, but he’s taken his game to a new level so far in 2024 with 689 yards passing and zero interceptions.

It’s a great start in his first full season, but he’ll have to stay healthy and will likely need to transfer to a more prominent program to gain NFL draft attention.

RotoRob Tune of the Day

English singer David Sylvian was born as David Alan Bratt. Here’s “Red Guitar,” the lead single from the album Brilliant Trees. The song reached No. 17 on the U.K. charts.