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Top Five Group of 5 Takeaways from Week 1

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mike Huesmann | Last updated 9/4/23

By Mike Huesmann

Texas State Found Their QB

I was in the minority over the offseason who predicted Auburn transfer TJ Finley would beat out Arkansas transfer Malik Hornsby, but that is how it ended up. Having seen both play plenty of games in the SEC, no amount of athleticism made me feel like Hornsby would be the guy in the pass-happy offense of G.J. Kinne. Hornsby has speed and can run with the best of them but anyone who watched Arkansas last year will remember how poor they were when KJ Jefferson got hurt, to the point where Cade Fortin was put in to replace him.

Finley certainly didn’t light up the SEC but his physical tools and throwing ability made him the natural choice all offseason, and it surprised me how many people just assumed Hornsby would be the guy. In the season-opening upset win over Baylor, Finley threw for 298 yards and 3 TDs while also running for another. That led him to be named Sun Belt Player of the Week.

Ali Didn't Miss a Beat

Marshall RB Rasheen Ali ran for 1,401 yards and 23 TDs in 2021 while also catching nearly 50 passes. He missed nearly all of last season but that doesn’t appear to have hindered his effectiveness too much.

In the season opener against Albany, the Herd were not inspiring, leaving it late against an FCS team, but Ali ran for 137 and the final 2 TDs of the game. Marshall will need QB Cam Fancher to play better to take some of the defensive focus off of Ali and it remains to be seen if that can happen. Ali looks set for another 1,000-yard season, and if the passing looks okay, his numbers could skyrocket.

Toledo is Who We Thought They Were

Despite the 30-28 loss at Illinois, Toledo is a solid squad who look likely to win the MAC. No team has won back-to-back MAC titles since 2015, but the Rockets will be tough to beat in conference pay.

Jason Candle has a consistent and tough squad led by QB Dequan Finn. Finn threw for 230 yards and 2 scores and added 75 and another score with his legs. The Rockets will get back on track against Texas Southern next week and it wouldn’t shock me if they finish with at least 10 wins in the regular season.

Kent State is Also Who We Thought They Were

And this is not good for the Golden Flashes. Kent State was decimated in the offseason more than anyone else in America. They lost many key players to the portal and their head coach, Sean Lewis, to Colorado.

The defense looked inept against UCF, allowing 56 points and seemingly forgetting how to tackle. It will be a long season for the Kent State faithful, who will be in the running to be the worst of the 133 FBS teams.

Rich Rod is Back

Not many people predicted that Jacksonville State would go to a bowl game in their first season at the FCS level, but after two season-opening wins, this looks like it will be on the table. Zion Webb struggled in week 0 but Nebraska transfer Logan Smothers came in and was effective, albeit against an FCS team in ETSU.

The spread-run teams we are accustomed to seeing from Rich Rod appear to be back and he may be showing us that his poor ending in Arizona was an aberration, not the rule. 6, and possibly 7, wins are a possibility this year for Jax State, and that’s very impressive for a first season at the top levels of college football.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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