Speaker 1: This podcast is brought to you by Titan Home Lending
and Drew Fellios are Florida realtor. Enjoy the podcast.
Speaker 2: A look at college football news, analysis and insight from
around the Sunshine State. This is Florida Football Insiders, a
part of the College Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast and
here's your host, Jason Powers.
Speaker 1: All right, welcome in Florida Football Insiders podcast. Appreciate you
finding us. Week one is upon us. We had a
few Week zero games last week. It's kind of the
highlight game was Iowa State Kansas State. But again we
are going to talk on this podcast, Florida Football Insiders,
all things college football in the NFL and the state
of Florida. So again, appreciate you finding us. We are
part of the College Gridiron Coast to Coast podcast network.
I am your host, Jason Powers. I'm down here in Tampa. Again.
We're gonna give you a nice preview of the games
for the state of Florida this week. All the Florida
teams are in action and we have a couple of
big one, big heavyweight battles here involving Florida State, Miami,
and even a little USF SO We're gonna try to
give you a little preview of all those games. We
got a little news off the field we're gonna get
to but again, appreciate you finding us. If you haven't already,
hit that subscribe button, subscribe, rate and review. We'd love
to hear from you. You can reach out to me
on Twitter and x at JPO Sports and again, Florida
Football Insiders podcast is the place to find us. You
can check out our archived edition from last week. If
you want a great Florida State Miami preview as well
as the University of South Florida preview, go back to
the episode last week and you'll be able to get
that preview live and on demand as well. So again,
appreciate you finding us again. The theme of the podcast
will be to preview and review the games in the
state of Florida last week. Nobody here in the state
played last week, so this is a full slate of
seven Division one games. Florida Long Island FSU, Alabama, Miami,
Notre Dame FAU and Maryland FIU, USF and Boise and
UCF and Jacksonville State is your lineup for the week. Again.
The action will kick off on Thursday night in Tampa,
National TV five thirty start time. Kind of an odd
start time. But USF Boise State at Raymond James Stadium,
let's start there. Interesting opener for the Bulls. The Bulls
have the hardest three games set, three game schedule to
start the season in America. They host Boise, then they
go to Miami, and they go to Florida and Miami
in the next two weeks. So a brutal start for
Alex Golish in year three. But if Alex Goalis could
win a get one of these three games, maybe two
of them, they would be potentially the darlings, the early
darlings of college football as we as we start off,
many people think Boise State will be a playoff contender
to follow up their playoff appearance last year. Interesting to
see how the weather will potentially affect Boise vary, warm
and sticky here in Tampa. Potential rain in the forecast
on Thursday, so we'll see how that affects Boise. But
again USF Boise again, the Byron Brown back at quarterback
for USF after an injury played year, and then you
have Boise having to rebuild a little bit losing Ashton
genty and such. So a very interesting battle here. I
think this is going to be a close game. I
think USF's going to be in this game, and I
think this is gonna be a fourth quarter game with
Boise and USF. Would not shock me if USF won
the game. Again, USF is in the best position they've
been in the three years of Alex Golis as far
as depth and as far as offense of a defensive
line reinforcements again, good skill positions, good running back cor
can the defense. The defense is the part that's been
gashed the last several years. Can the defense stand up
and hold up to a team that wants to run
the ball, which boys he will want to do. Control
of the clock Again, USF does not like to keep
possession of the ball on offense. They are very fast
paced offense. So we'll see if USF can have time
and possession be some somewhat, even if not a little bit,
in their advantage. I think that will be a key
to this game is how long does Boise stake keep
the ball? Could be a factor here for USF. But
I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna say this game is
a one score game. I'll give Boise the slight edge,
but would not be shocked if USF pulls an upset
here Thursday nine to kick off the Thursday night coverage
on ESPN. Next game we want to hit on Thursday
nine in Orlando. The return of Scott Frost to UCF.
Scott member fraud came back to UCF after leaving to
go to Nebraska and he had an unceremoniously uh just
tough run at Nebraska, sat out a year, or he
actually wasn't to sit out in the year, but he
was an assistant coach last year and Scott Frost back
at UCF after Gus Malazan leaves to be the offensive
coordinator up in Tallahassee for the Seminoles. So a rebirth
fear of this program that Scott Frost had to had
a had a perfect season back several years back. Again,
kind of a rebuild project in Orlando. But again, I
think it's a great fit for Scott Frost. I think
it's a good fit for UCF. A lot of recruiting
options here in the state of Florida. Frost is a good,
good communicator. Cam Fancher comes in from FAU the transfer
quarterback to be It was named the starting quarterback at UCF.
Tough road schedule for UCF in the Big Twelve road
games at Baylor, at Kansas State, at b YU. So again,
tough road to hoe in the Big Twelve. But again,
if you're if you're Scott Frost, I think a bowl
game would be a great start here in year one
of the of the rebuild in Orlando. And again I
think Scott will get some players. Uh maybe not, it
will maybe not show up on the field this year.
But again I like where Scott Frost is a good
pick here. Uh, Jacksonville State comes into town on Thursday night.
Remember Rich Rod left Jacksonville State to go back to
West Virginia. So we've got a new coaching staff at
Jacksonville State. So game you seef should win, but you
never know. And again hopefully u CF will get off
to a good start Thursday night, seven o'clock against Jacksonville State,
you know, in the Bouts House in Orlando. Next up,
let's go to fiu f IU is playing Bethune Cookman.
I believe they are playing U Let me give me
give me a quick second here, I will double check this.
They are playing uh Bene Cookman Yes on Friday night
at seven o'clock at home the Panthers. The Willie Simmons
era has begun here. Willie Simmons, the former Florida A
and M coach Clemson quarterback, had a really good run
his eight years as the head coach. He's never had
a losing season. This is a tough, very tough job
down here in Miami with FIU. Keon Jenkins returns as
the quarterback through for twenty two touchdowns last year. Again,
Willie Simmons, I think will be a good fit down
in FIU. Will take him a couple of years to
build that back up. They do have an again winnable
game this week against Pethune Cookman. Then they will head
next Saturday, they head up to Happy Valley see the
number two team in the country, Penn State, and then
they will get into their conference schedule with ANI with
an FAU interstate battle with FAU on September the thirteenth.
So we'll be interesting to see how again year one
Willie Simmons, if he's able to keep some of these guys,
his upper end players, if he's able to keep them
in the program again Simmons has done a good job
at the previous play. He's been Prairie, U, A and
M Florida and M. So again, I think it's a
good fit with FIU Willie Simmons. Here one FIU hosting
Bethune Cookman on Friday night at seven o'clock. All right,
let's go to Florida. Gainesville. The Gators will host Long
Island University. Saint Who. Yeah, Long Island University actually has
a football team. Keynote, keynote here, little NFL tie here.
Todd Bowles, head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His
son is a cornerback on the on the l IU team.
So Todd Bowles would probably be in the building on
Saturday in Gainesville. But again, Florida. DJ Lagway's health he
will start obviously, had a little CAF issue at the
beginning of spring of being a training camp. He is
good to go, but his health is critical. Billy Napier
year four gets a fourth year. Obviously, we know the
strong finish they had the Gators had last year. They
have another brutal schedule this year where they Miami. They
play the treacherous SEC schedule. You got Texas Texas A
and m LSU Georgia and all the rest. So a
brutal stretch from like week four to week seven or
eight for Florida, so it's imperative that they get off
to a good start. Slow starts have been a problem
for Billy Napier in the past. But again Billy Napier
thinks he has his best team in the trenches, especially
offensive and defensive lines. They got a strong running game
Jaden Ball and Jackson in the backfield, can the can
the wide receivers? Can they step up and be factors
Eugene Wilson. They got a good transfer from UCLA. But
again Dj Lagway is a sophomore here. Can he take
the next step? If he can, this Florida team will
have a shot to potentially go nine and three. And
if you can go nine and three with that schedule
they got to, they'll have a great chance to be
in the playoffs. So we will see how the Gators
kick off their year. Again, should not be any issues
with Long Island. The one thing I would be I
would be very interesting to see is how many designed
running plays are in the offense this year. For Dj Lagway.
I know he's a virsaile athlete, but you cannot have
him taking the unnecessary hits when your quarterback depth is
what it is behind DJ Lagway and he's basically the
keys to the kingdom. Here is DJ Lagway. Week two,
they will play USF in Gainesville. Then they head on
the road to LSU. Week three could be a huge showdown.
Then you have then after that they go to Miami,
so back to back road games at LSU at Miami
week off, then they host Texas, then they go back
on the road to Texas A and m so a
brutal four game stretch in five weeks. Even that USF
game could be tricky, especially if USF were to beat Boise.
So keep an eye on the Gators. If they can
get through September with one loss, they will have a
great chance to potentially be in the line for a
playoff run. Again, key here is health of Dj Lagway.
Can the defense be a little bit better, a little
more consistent pass and can the offensive skill guide especially
the wide receivers. Can they step up and be major factors.
Eugene Wilson and company. They're up in Gainesville, so that
will be something we will keep track of as we
move throughout the year as the college and NFL seasons
finally heat up as we move through the summer, so
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eight two, nine, nine three four. FAU Willie Tagger Year
two starts off Week one one at Maryland on Saturday.
Cayden Veldt Camp comes over from Western Kentucky is the
new quarterback. Remember Camp Bancher left to go to UCF
Velt Camp player of the Year in Cusa in twenty
twenty four at Western Kentucky through twenty five touchdowns. Very
prolific offense there at Western Kentucky. It's a nice get
for FAU to get veld Camp Veldt Camp to come
down to to Boca to to UH for the for
the uh Owls of Fau. Fau's got a again head
pay a pay day at Maryland, which again not out
of the question. They could win Maryland is not h
not a powerhouse at Maryland should win the game, but
not a not out of the question that they could
be competitive in the game. So we will see what
it looks like for FAU again year two. Willy Taggart.
You know, we know Willy Taggart here, a former USF coach,
former Oregon coach, former Florida state coach. So again a
lot of ties to the state of Floridas with Willie
again as a recruiter. He was a high school he
was a big time high school player here in the
state of Florida as well. Again, I think it's a
good fit with Willy at FAU. He'll be able to
recruit some players there, keep them there and all that.
But can Cadenveldt can't be the key here for the
Owls as the incoming as the returning CUSA Player of
the Year. They play FIU early in the year. You
got Maryland, so you got to keep him healthy. So
it'll be interesting to see him. We'll keep up as
FAU heads into year two, Week one at Maryland on Saturday.
All right, last two games that will preview the two heavyweights.
Let's start up in Tallahassee Saturday, afternoon three thirty dope
Campbell Stadium, Alabama comes to town again. Florida State the
biggest disappointment in the country last year at two and ten.
A lot of pressure on Mike Norvel. They bring in
Gus Malzon from UCF to be the offensive coordinator. They
bring in Thomas Castellanos from Boston College to being the
new quarterback again. A lot of new faces, a new offense,
new defense. Tony White comes over from Nebraska to be
the defensive coordinator. To me, this is a culture game
for Florida State. We will we will know after this
kind of where this after this game, where the culture
is in Tallassee. Florida State does not have to win
this game, but you gotta be competitive. You cannot go
out and get beat thirty eight fourteen at home by
the Crimson Tide. Do you have to win the game.
Speaker 2: No.
Speaker 1: You want to win the game, absolutely, but you don't
have to win the game. Again. You'll you get some
you'll get some great insight. If you didn't hear my
interview last week with Jeff Colhaynes, the voice of the Seminoles,
go check that out in the archives from the episode
last week. He talked a lot about chemistry and about
how again how Gus Malzods had success against Alabama. We
know what kind of play caller gust can be running attack.
Can the offensive line, which has pretty much been rebuilt,
can they withstand and hold up against that vaulted Alabama defense.
A lot of people think Alabama's defense will be one
of the top five in the country this year. The
Florida State offensive line, you have to be able to
run the ball in this game. You cannot have Castellanos.
Have to throw the ball thirty five times to stay
in this game or it's gonna be a long day
in Tallahassee. I see this as a low, lower scoring game.
Remember Alabama's breaking in a new quarterback, Ty Simpson. Remember
Ryan Grubb is now back calling places from Tuscaloosa. He's
he's been kind of Caleb de Bor's right hand man
most of their run together. He left. He was in
Seattle with the Seahawks last year, but he's back in
tuscal looses the OC so I think that'll create some
continuity there. But Ty Simpson, what we get out of
Ty Simpson as the Alabama quarterback again? Jam Miller the
running back for Alabama will not play in this game. Well,
so we'll see how that affects the Alabama running game.
But again, I think this game is going to be
kind of decided in the trenches, both offensive and defensive lines.
If Florida State can hold up, I think this game
will go to the fourth quarter. In doubt. Alabama comes
into this game about a thirteen to thirteen and a
half point favorite. I think that's a little rich for me.
I would take Florida State gun to my head to
take the points here to keep this game close. But again,
how will that Florida State fan base react to if
it turns out if all of a sudden the scores
ten to nothing first quarter, Alabama can Castellanos Again, he
is a key. He was talking a lot this summer
about his about what he thinks what Florida State can do.
Can he can he cast the check that he's trying
to that he's been writing all summer. Again, interesting match
up here for Florida State. Again, I don't think they
have to win the game, but you better be ultra
competitive in the game. They have a manageable acc schedule.
They go to Virginia, they go to Clemson, later in
the year. But other than that, they've got some games
that are winnable games. They got Miami coming to Tallahassee.
I think that is all that could potentially be a
pretty good game early October. But again, how will Florida
State get off the mat here? I following that too
and ten disaster last year for Mike norvel So renovations
going on at dote Campbell Stadium will not be a
capacity crowd like you've seen in previous years in Tallassee,
but it will be a raucous crowd. I am sure
with Alabama coming to town, they will bring plenty of
fans with them as well. But again, Alabama Florida State
Saturday afternoon, three thirty dope Campbell Stadium should be a
good game. Last game we're gonna preview is Sunday night,
hard Rock seven point thirty national television standalone game. Notre
Dame comes to town to see the Miami Hurricanes again,
a rekindling of this classic rivalry over the years, Catholics
versus the Convicts from back in the eighties and the nineties.
Notre Dame comes off the playoff appearance last year. They
do lose Riley Leonard, But they bring back potentially the
best running back in the country in Jeremiah Love. You
have a new quarterback they're breaking in CJ. Carr, the
grandson of Lloyd Carr, is a red shirt freshman. He'll
be the starting quarterback. I think that potentially could play
in the favor of Miami. Really good defense for Notre
Dame comes back. Marcus Freeman done a really good job
with this defense the last couple of years. Plenty of
NFL guys have come off of that defense. Benjamin Morrison
that corner is now a Tampa Bay buccaneer. But again, again,
I think this game will probably be a more lower
scoring game. Miami Carson Beck in the fold this year,
replacing cam Ward. We know what cam Ward was last year,
a tremendous player, top two or three in the Heisman
Trophy balloting, all the kind of wild finishes they had
last year On offense. Can the Miami defense, can they
step up to the plate here and be good? Don't
have to be great, be good? Can Carson Beck be
twenty twenty three good and not Carson Beck From twenty
twenty four twenty twenty three, Carson Beck was one of
the would have been a top ten draft pick in
the NFL last year. Too many interceptions, too much of
the consistency. He leaves Georgia down to Miami. Miami loses
a lot of offensive weapons to graduation. I think their
top six receivers are gone. But again, they should have athletes.
But again, can Carson Beck be a difference maker for Miami.
Doesn't have to be an All American Player of the Year,
but he needs to be really good. If he's really good,
Miami has a very favorable schedule. If they can get
through this game and through the Florida game one and
one at worst or two and zero, Miami's gonna have
a great chance. No Georgia Tech on the schedule, No
Clemson on the schedule. They have several of their big
games in their building. Florida's gonna be coming to town,
Notre Dame's in their building, Louisville's in their building. They
do go to SMU later in the year, but again,
no Clemson, no Georgia Tech. So a very manageable schedule
if you're Miami, but you got to take care of
business against Notre Dame in Florida. If you can split
those two, then you'd have at least a little bit
of margin frarer to lose one more potentially down the
road and still make the a SEC title game. I
think if you make the ACC title game and you're
ten and two, I think they'd have a great chance
to make the playoffs, especially if you can beat Notre
Dame here in week one, and I think they're gonna
have a great chance. They coming to this game as
an underdog a little motivation. Again, I think this will
be a raucous crowd in Miami for this one Notre Dame.
A lot of fans for Notre Dame will be there
as well. But again, I do like, I actually like
Miami to win this game out right, I think freshman
quarterback for Notre Dame could be a little bit of
an issue. I think Miami is gonna be better on defense.
They brought in the new the defensive coordinator from Minnesota
last year who had a top five defense in the
country as far as yards and points and such at Minnesota.
So again, again, go go listen to my conversation last
week with Joseph Gaki, the Voice of the Hurricanes. He'll
give you some great insight on the person of the
personnel issue. Personnel for Miami should have a very good
defensive line. Again, when Miami has been really good over
the years, their defensive front four have been really good.
They've got guys coming back that have got accolades and
that have had some production. So and again, Miami should
have a good offensive line with Mario Christopaul and again
should have a good running attack or again with Carson
Beck leading that running game. And again can the Miami
wide receivers can they win on the outside. A lot
of unknown guys, but a lot of talented guys as well.
So to me, that's the key to the game. I
think this again, I think this is a lower score game.
I could see this being like a twenty four to
twenty kind of game. I don't think either team will
get to thirty in this game. Both defenses will play well,
again jittering, There'll be some jitters with CJ. Carr. I
believe on the road, I like Miami to win the
game out right, getting a couple two and a half
three points at home. I think Carson Beck will play
well and again, don't have the catastrophic turnover. If you're Miami,
and I think you'll be in pretty good shape. So
there's your seven seven previews. Again, a lot of a
lot of hype about Miami Notre Dame, a lot of
hype about fs Ubama Florida. Again, tough schedule, but they've
got they've got They've got the talent I think to
be competitive. They can go nine and three. I think
they got a very good chance to be a playoff
contending team at the end of the year. You USF
could be sneaky good. A lot of people think they
can be h maybe the darlings of the of the
non Power four, potentially vying for a playoff spot. If
you beat Boise, you're off to a great start. I
know you got Miami in Florida down the road in
the next couple of weeks as well. You're not gonna
win all three of those games, but if you could
somehow go too and one of those games, you would
be in a tremendous spot for as a Power five
team heading to the end of September. Gonna have it.
They're gonna be very competitive in the American Conference, I
think as well. And again a Byron Brown can stay healthy,
I think they got They're gonna have a good chance
to be UH conference title competitive in that conference this year.
So there's your previews of Week one in the state
of Florida for Football Insiders podcast. Appreciate you finding us again, Subscribe,
rate and review. Remember the College Gridiron Coast to Coast
podcast feed. We'll have podcasts related to the naval academies,
to the Big Ten, the ACC, the SEC guys out West,
teams out West. So definitely checked out College Gridiron Coach
to Coach podcast feed. Shout out to our guys Steve
Carney and TJ Reeves putting this together allowed me to
do this for the third year in a row, the
Florida Football Insiders. We will have guests throughout the year
as well, people covering teams, potentially former players, former coaches,
and speaking of former coaches who have to address this.
If you saw the news, former USF coach Jim Levitt
was arrested and charged with a couple of charges. He
had just been inducted. He had just been announced that
he was going to get inducted into the USF Hall
of Fame. Remember coach Levitt was the original coach at
USF and was there for ten plus years and then
left again. We will see what happens with these charges,
how it potentially would affect his Hall of Fame induction.
But again, just want to give you a little bit
of information that just broke a couple of days ago
here in Thempon Bay area. Apparently there was a dispute
between coach Levitt and a former girlfriend. So we'll see
how that plays out in the justice system. But again,
coach Levitt UH was was slated to be UH inducting
the USF Hall of Fame. The USF has not made
a public comment yet about what what what how this
arrest could potentially affect at but we shall see a
couple of notes from the NFL cut down day around
the state of Florida, Bucks, Dolphins, Jags, Big New Big.
The big cut for the Bucks will be Kyle Trask,
the former Gator quarterback was cut as the backup. Apparently
he was injured in the last preseason game, so they
they made an injury set them at Teddy Bridgewater h
is now who's who is who? Was coaching high school
football and he had an issue off the field as
far as him coaching high school football. This year, he
will be the Buccaneers backup quarterback as of now to
Baker Mayfield. He had some moves in Jacksonville in the
Dolphins NFL season one week away next Thursday. Night Bucks
open next Sunday in Atlanta. Miami opens in Indianapolis and
the Jaguars will open there. The Liam Cohen era at
home against the Carolina Panthers. So new beginnings in Jacksonville
with Liam Cohen, who was a former Buccaneer offensive coordinator
takes over in Jacksonville. Remember Travis Hunter, Trevor Lawrence and
that crew Miami. A lot of pressure on Mike McDaniel
in year four here, A lot of people think he's
on the hot seat with Tua and that offense. Better
get it together or he might be in some trouble
there in Miami. So we'll see how that goes in
year one, and we'll give you a full preview of
those openers next week as well. Again, Florida Football INSIGDNS
will be here every week recapping the week that was
and previewing that week that is. Gonna be so appreciate
you finding US Florida Football Insiders podcast at JPO Sports.
If you want to see the video content, check out
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So again, appreciate you finding us, and we will see
you next week recapping Week one of the college football
year and previewing Week one NFL and Week two of
the college football on the Florida Football Insiders Podcast. Thanks
for listening to the Florida Football Insiders Podcast as part
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