The first Saturday of the college football season came with plenty of heroes and a few goats as well. College Football 24/7 takes a look some draft prospects who made noise in Week 1, for better or worse.
Winners
Greg Ward, QB, Houston
The Cougars' dual-threat quarterback was more of a singular threat Saturday, passing for 321 yards and rushing for just 1. But on this day, the senior's prolific rushing skills weren't even needed in a 33-23 upset of No. 3 Oklahoma. Between Ward's dissection of the Sooners' Â secondary and a spectacular "Kick Six" touchdown from defensive back Brandon Harris, Houston secured the biggest upset of the day's early action.
James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh star rusher didn't need to play a down to call himself a winner on this day. Overcoming Hodgkin Lymphoma in the offseason made his return to the field triumphant on its own. But of course, the 2014 ACC Player of the Year, who was also returning from a season-ending knee injury, did more than that. Conner came through with a touchdown run, a touchdown catch, and enough inspiration for every soul at Heinz Field.
Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
Coming off a knee injury in 2015 that at one point had coach Kirby Smart reticent about whether Chubb would even be able to play in Week 1, the junior showed no ill effects against North Carolina. Chubb rumbled for 222 yards on 32 carries in a 33-24 win. The 222 yards marked the second-highest total of his career, and the 32 carries left no doubt that Smart is fully confident in his ability to again handle a workhorse-like role.
J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State
OK, so the Buckeyes' 77-10 thrashing of Bowling Green wasn't a legitimate test for Barrett or anyone else wearing scarlet and gray. And you couldn't blame NFL scouts if they don't give this film any more than a cursory look. Nevertheless, after an early interception, the OSU quarterback bounced back to account for a whopping seven touchdowns (six passing, one rushing), and he didn't even play the entire game.
Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU
In a losing effort, the senior cornerback sparked the Tigers' comeback attempt by forcing Wisconsin turnovers on back-to-back second-half possessions. White returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown to cut the Badgers' lead to 13-7, then scooped up a fumble on the ensuing drive to set up yet another LSU touchdown for a 14-13 lead. A late field goal gave Wisconsin a 16-14 win.
*John Ross III, WR, Washington *
After missing the entire 2015 season with an injury, the Huskies wide receiver made sure everyone knew he was back on Saturday. Ross found the end zone three times in a 48-13 rout of Rutgers, catching five passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns, plus a spectacular 92-yard kickoff return for a score.
Losers
Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma
Statistically, Mayfield posted some impressive numbers against Houston, completing 24 of 33 passes for 323 yards and a pair of touchdowns without an interception. But in absorbing a season-opening loss to a Group of Five opponent, he's essentially tripped out of the starting block in the Heisman Trophy race. It's still early, but losses impact Heisman voting as much or more than stats do.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, USC
Smith-Schuster's season got off to a dud of a start. The star receiver didn't make his first catch against Alabama until about five minutes left in the third quarter, by which time his team hopelessly trailed 38-3. About all the best receiver in the Pac-12 contributed before that was drawing a pass interference call in the first quarter. It wasn't all his fault, as USC quarterbacks were under extreme pressure from the Alabama pass rush, but regardless of the cause, it couldn't have been a more forgettable night for Smith-Schuster.
Josey Jewell, LB, Iowa
Jewell, one of the most talented linebackers in the country, was ejected from the Hawkeyes' game against Miami of Ohio for a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit that officials flagged for a targeting penalty.
Joshua Dobbs, QB, Tennessee
If Tennessee's season hinges on the play of Dobbs, coach Butch Jones can't be getting much sleep this weekend. The Volunteers senior struggled Thursday night in a 20-13 overtime win over an Appalachian State team that wasn't expected to give UT much of a game. Dobbs looked uncomfortable all night, completing 16 of 29 passes with an interception, and his athleticism didn't bail him out (9 carries, minus-4 yards).
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
