dawgbonejr

Dawgbone Jr's Weekend Observations

Born barkin', raised on Kirby's domination of rivals, and fueled by national championships - Dawgbone Jr recaps the weekend's biggest games throughout the season.

9.01.25

Week 1 Takeaways: What We Learned from Every Big Game

Auburn 38 - Baylor 24

Going into this matchup, it felt like a must-win for Auburn –- and they delivered. The Tigers dominated on the ground, racking up 308 rushing yards, 244 more than Baylor. Transfer QB Jackson Arnold led the way with 137 yards and two touchdowns. Baylor stayed in it thanks to QB Sawyer Robertson, who threw for over 400 yards and three scores, but a late kick-return touchdown by Rayshawn Pleasant sealed the win for Auburn. A huge non-conference victory to kick off the season.

Georgia Tech 27 - Colorado 20

The Ramblin’ Wreck entered the year with plenty of hype but stumbled early, committing 3 turnovers in the first quarter. Once they settled down, though, Georgia Tech ran all over Deion Sanders’ defense, piling up 320 rushing yards at over six yards per carry. Veteran QB Haynes King provided the spark, capping his gritty performance with a game-winning 45-yard touchdown run. Colorado had a chance in the final minutes, but poor clock management killed their chances.

#1 Texas 7 - #3 Ohio State 14

The game of the week in Columbus turned into a defensive slugfest. Arch Manning, surrounded by offseason hype, struggled mightily, and Ohio State’s red-zone defense proved decisive. Texas went 0-for-2 in the red zone, turning the ball over on downs both times. Despite losing key starters, the Buckeyes reloaded on defense and looked dominant. QB Julian Sayin was efficient in his first start, avoiding mistakes and connecting on a deep touchdown to build a 14-point lead. Texas scored late and had a chance in Buckeye territory with under two minutes to go, but Manning’s errant throws led to a turnover on downs, giving the defending champs a statement win.

Syracuse 26 - #24 Tennessee 45

Tennessee entered the season with question marks at quarterback after Nico Iamaleava’s departure, but transfer Joey Aguilar quickly silenced doubts. Aguilar tossed three touchdown passes while Tennessee’s ground game continued to roll even without Dylan Sampson, who left for the NFL. Syracuse showed fight behind new QB Steve Angeli, but its defense had no answers for the Vols’ balanced attack. A strong opening statement for Tennessee.

#8 Alabama 17 - Florida State 31

The shocker of the week came in Tallahassee, where Florida State pulled off a signature win to erase memories of last year’s struggles. QB Tommy Castellanos talked big in the offseason and backed it up with an electric performance. Alabama’s struggles on the ground defined the game, as the Tide managed just 89 rushing yards at three yards per carry while being surprisingly outmuscled at the line of scrimmage. For second year coach Kalen DeBoer, it was another road letdown and his 4th loss with Bama as double digit favorites. For Mike Norvell, it was a statement victory to open the year.

#9 LSU 17 - #4 Clemson 10

Death Valley at night is one of the toughest environments in college football, but LSU conquered it for their first Week 1 win since 2019. Clemson led by a touchdown at halftime, but LSU controlled the second half, fueled by an improved Blake Baker defense that stifled the Clemson run game. LSU’s offense sputtered early but found its rhythm after halftime, scoring two pivotal touchdowns. Clemson had a chance to tie late, but LSU’s defense held strong with a clutch fourth-down stop in the red zone. The Bayou Bengals can now rightfully claim “Death Valley” bragging rights after this gritty win.

Virginia Tech 11 - #13 South Carolina 24

The Gamecocks came out hot in Atlanta with an opening touchdown drive led by LeNorris Sellers, but defense quickly took over on both sides. Both defenses brought relentless pressure, but South Carolina’s unit, led by Dylan Stewart, set the tone and kept the Hokies out of the end zone. Stewart even battled through an in-game injury to return and sack QB Kryon Drones. At the end of three quarters, South Carolina held only a 10-8 lead, but a punt return touchdown from Vicari Swain and a deep strike to Nyck Harbor sealed the victory in the fourth.

#6 Notre Dame 24 - #10 Miami 27

Two old rivals – “Catholics vs. Convicts” – clashed on Sunday night in one of the week’s best games. Carson Beck, making his Miami debut, looked sharper than he did at times last season with Georgia. The Hurricanes’ ground game helped open up passing lanes for Beck and a talented receiving room. On the other side, freshman CJ Carr showed flashes in his first road start, battling through a surprisingly tough Miami environment. While Notre Dame moved the ball at times, the Hurricanes’ defense – a unit that struggled mightily last season – stepped up on key moments. Marcus Freeman’s Irish tied the game late, but Carter Davis nailed a game-winning field goal in the final minutes to give Mario Cristobal and the Canes a signature top-10 win to open the season.

Bulldog Breakout: UGA’s Surprise Star of the Week

Dwight Phillips Jr.

Sophomore running back Dwight Phillips Jr. didn’t see a heavy workload, but he made every touch count. He racked up 60 yards on just five carries, averaging an explosive 12 yards per attempt. Phillips also gave the Dawgs their first touchdown of the game on a 17-yard run. After seeing limited action last year, this performance hinted at his potential to play a much bigger role in 2025. If he keeps this up, Philips could establish himself as the clear No. 2 option behind Nate Frazier in Georgia’s backfield.