Unfiltered Takes after Week 3: Arch Manning, DJ Lagway, Texas A&M and much more

A lot that happens on college football Saturdays. It’s hard to keep up with everything.

So this season, in an attempt to bring everybody up to speed — while taking a chance to provide you with some takes in the process — I’m going to rattle off over-arching thoughts from the previous weekend. I’ll also do my best to spring thoughts forward, not just tell you what already happened.

Let’s keep it going with the latest edition of Unfiltered Takes.

1. Mike Elko: In Mike Elko‘s first 16 games as Texas A&M’s coach, the Aggies have beaten three top-10 opponents. The most recent one — a thrilling win over Notre Dame on Saturday night — feels even more significant, given it kept the Aggies unbeaten early in the season, with all their dreams still alive. Texas A&M has always had a very high ceiling, given that few other programs have as many resources and ideal proximity to talent. Still, the Aggies have never been able to put it together. Elko seems like the perfect person to do it. Could this be the year?

2. Texas A&M: There isn’t a group of fans in the country that is more deserving than the moment they got in South Bend. The best part? It was the Aggies taking advantage of their opponent’s mind-blowing mistake instead of being the team that commits it. That was incredible theatre and a gusty performance by quarterback Marcel Reed, who was clearly under-appreciated during the offseason. Don’t look now, but there isn’t a single game Texas A&M can’t win on their schedule, one that is void of both Alabama and Georgia. Why couldn’t Texas A&M make the College Football Playoff?

3. Importance of wide receivers: Texas A&M went out and grabbed receivers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion this offseason and they have completely transformed the Aggies offense. Craver, who had 207 yards receiving and a touchdown against the Irish, already has more receiving yards and touchdowns than he did the entire season at Mississippi State. This is a Texas A&M point in the sense that Reed, the receivers and running back Le’Veon Moss could makeup one of the best offenses in the country. It’s also a reiteration of how important it is to have game-changing receivers in college football. Reed is a completely different player. He got better, sure, but so did his help.

4. Notre Dame: Notre Dame is five points away from potentially being ranked No. 1 overall in the Associated Press poll. Well, I’m a $1 billion away from being a billionaire. Now the question is whether the Irish can make the CFP if they go on another remarkable run like they did last year. Honestly, the answer is yes, even though there isn’t an obvious marquee win opportunity on their schedule. I think in most years, winning 10 games alone is going to be worthy of a spot. And don’t look now, but USC has looked really good, and the Trojans could wind up being that marquee win the Irish desperately need. There is something amusing about Notre Dame having to root for USC, but that’s a reality.

5. Arch Manning: Back to the state of Texas, what the heck was that? In last week’s unfiltered thoughts, I touched on Arch Manning not being impressive and it rubbed some the wrong way. This week, Manning had a disastrous game against UTEP. His throwing motion seems off, he is missing receivers left and right and his confidence seems shot. These are supposed to be the get-right, stat-padding games. Instead, he looked inept against an overmatched opponent. I didn’t join the “Manning stinks” parade after the Ohio State game because playing the Buckeyes on the road in the season-opener is an incredible tall task. Whatever that was? Yes, there is reason to concern something is off.

6. Steve Sarkisian: There is no doubt in my mind that Steve Sarkisian is one of the five best coaches in college football. Consider what Texas was before his arrival and compare it to what it is now. Talent accumulation, development and winning are all immeasurably better. That said, should he consider hiring a playcalling offensive coordinator? It’s so hard — and rare — for head coaches to call plays with everything that is going on during the game. Giving it up may not be his desire, but the offense (at times) lacks rhythm and the Longhorns are abysmal in the red zone. Is it time for a second set of eyes? Look what happened at Ohio State when Ryan Day gave up playcalling.

7. DJ Lagway: It’s hard to criticize players, but now that they’re being compensated millions in exchange for their play, it’s fair game. DJ Lagway, who threw five interceptions in Florida’s loss to LSU on Saturday night, looked completely overwhelmed by the moment. This is a player who has potentially the most insane physical gifts of any player who plays the position in the country, and I was really high on his ability to take the next step this year. Watching that performance made my face melt off. That and Manning on the same day? Unbelievable.

8. Preseason QB ranking: My hands are up. During the offseason, I ranked Lagway as my No. 1 quarterback in the country. I also said it was a literal impossibility that Manning wouldn’t be good. People (rightfully) came after me on social media on Saturday. Though I’m not ashamed of my attempt to project forward on how 2025 would go, Saturday did have me reflecting on how I may try to go about it next year. Instead of relying on recruiting rankings, physical traits and circumstance, I’m just going to emphasize players who have already proven to be dogs. Guys like Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King (who was on my list) and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia should be given more credit for already proving it. It’s not about who goes highest in the NFL Draft. It’s about being a really good college quarterback. I’m not giving up on Manning or Lagway because they are both new starters, but maybe putting them both in the top five was too much.

9. Georgia: Dawgs. Literally. What a win on the road against Tennessee on Saturday. It proved some people wrong. While Georgia is a deep and talented team with the best coach in college football, it was easy to question whether the Bulldogs would still run through the SEC. That’s still up for debate (that Alabama game can’t get here soon enough). Kirby Smart’s team proved they are still a problem. The most revelatory thing from that game isn’t that Georgia is still good. It’s that quarterback Gunner Stockton, who some analysts were down on heading into the year, proved he can be a difference-maker in high-leverage moments in the SEC. It was impossible to come away from that game and not feel differently about Georgia moving forward.

10. Tennessee: Tennesee fans were down after the loss to Georgia. The Volunteers held an 8-point lead late and missed a game-winning field goal attempt. That signature win was on the edge of their fingertips and they let it slip away. But don’t mourn, Tennessee fans. Mourning is what people do when something dies. Tennessee didn’t only survive, it proved to the entire country that there isn’t a single team it cannot beat on the right day. Think about where Tennessee fans were in April and offer them the result of that Georgia game in that moment? Automatic take.

11. Joey Aguilar: It’s easy to understand why Tennessee fans enjoy hate-watching Nico Iamalaeava. They felt betrayed by his actions. They are scorned lovers. But watching Joey Aguilar cook in Neyland Stadium felt like watching a Disney movie. They have a quarterback who fits in the system better than Iamaleava ever did. That quarterback was hitting deep balls. That quarterback was gutsy in pivotal moments against Georgia. Outside of sealing the win (obviously), how could that have gone better? It’s time to stop thinking about Iamaleava. It’s not even worth your time.

BONUS TAKE: Tennessee’s receivers made plays. Chris Brazzell II, Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews all of a sudden has become a nasty trio of wide receivers. They made Aguilar’s life so much easier. Receivers, man. You can’t say enough about how important they are.

12. Beau Pribula: Missouri has played three games and scored 40 points or more in all of them. Obviously, the 42-31 win over Kansas stands out, but the Tigers’ offense is the real deal. The country may not have started to take notice, but Penn State transfer Beau Pribula has been playing out of his mind. We’ll find out more about how real these results are once Mizzou gets into the heart of SEC play, but I can see the talking points coming: Is Penn State worse off because Drew Allar came back? Spicy.

13. Dylan Raiola: Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola is off to a monster start this season. The former five-star prospect has thrown for 829 yards, eight touchdowns and zero interceptions through the first three games — all wins. Nebraska fans are starting to get excited, and rightfully so. I saw a lot of Raiola’s name pop up while people were mocking my projections for Lagway and Manning. They are convinced I hate Nebraska and it’s some sort of personal smear campaign against the Cornhuskers. That’s asinine, but what can you do? If you think I’m a hater or Raiola has been vastly underrated, guess what? Michigan is coming to town this weekend, and now is the time for Raiola’s growth to show up. Nebraska has been starving for success, and this is where respect is earned, not in blowouts of Houston Christian. If Raiola tears up the Wolverines, you’ll see the public show of respect (from me and others) you think he’s entitled to now.

14. Kansas State: There are a lot of reasons quarterback Avery Johnson was hyped. Of course, Kansas State went to him and allowed Will Howard to transfer to Ohio State before last season. He’s also a freaky athlete and gifted runner who was a highly-rated prospect. We’ve been waiting for the light to turn on and for him to become a sensational player. But watching Kansas State’s loss to Arizona on Friday evening, it seems like that light may not turn on. It was painful to watch Kansas State on offense. Everything – yes, everything — looked hard. Johnson’s final stats for the game were 88 yards passing, -16 yards rushing and a touchdown. I’m not sure Johnson made a single play the entire game. It was bad.

15. Alabama: Alabama undressed Wisconsin on Saturday and if that statement were made 5 years ago, it may mean more. But Ty Simpson threw for 382 yards, receiver Ryan Williams had 165 yards and two touchdowns and the Crimson Tide added a blowout of a Big Ten team to its resume. The best thing about the game? Kalen DeBoer got fired up on the sideline. The players were playing passionately. It looked completely different than what we saw in the season-opening loss against Florida State. Though nobody should dismiss the notion that Alabama is going to lose again or is prone to having another clunker, that Georgia game in two weeks can’t come fast enough. Alabama is slowing earning my trust back as a team that can make noise in the SEC. They have really good players. That’s so much of the battle in this sport.

16. Wisconsin: Trying to decipher what’s gone wrong with Wisconsin is like peeling an onion. Is it Luke Fickell being unable to identify what the Badgers are/should be? Is it because Fickell has been unable to get good players to come to Madison? Is Wisconsin unable to be what it wants because it can’t get good players? There are levels to it. What I do know is Fickell was brought to Wisconsin to make the Badgers competitively nationally. Fickell was supposed to not only return Wisconsin to a 10-win team annually, but make it able to play against elite-level teams from coast-to-coast. In year 4, Wisconsin is just simply bad, far worse off than it was under Paul Chryst. It was simply embarrassed by Alabama on Saturday. It was pathetic. Now the Badgers have to traverse one of the most difficult schedules in college football. Fickell has an expensive buyout. Will Wisconsin think about paying it?

17. Brent Key: How much can be said about what Brent Key has done at Georgia Tech? It wasn’t that long go the Yellow Jackets felt hopeless despite being conveniently located in the heart of Atlanta. All of a sudden Georgia Tech is one of the toughest teams in the ACC. That’s culture. That’s buy-in. That’s all the coaching cliches you could ever hear at play. Obviously King is a menace at quarterback, but the entire team embodies that tough-guy mentality. Clemson, despite having what I think is one of the best defensive lines in the country, didn’t stand a chance trying to stop this team. Go look at Georgia Tech’s schedule now. Find me a certain loss. You can’t.

18. Clemson: It’s just so disappointing. This team has three players — quarterback Cade Klubnik and defensive linemen Peter Woods and T.J. Parker — who may be selected in the top 15 of next year’s NFL Draft. And yet, the Tigers, who have one of the best coaches in the country, look almost indistinguishable from what they were the last few years. I bought the hype. I drank the Kool-Aid. I thought Clemson had a chance to be a legitimate national title contender. Something is off.

19. Vanderbilt: It’s time to start believing in Vanderbilt. It was easy to mock Pavia for saying he returned to the Commodores because he wanted to win a national title. And while I still don’t believe that’s this team’s ceiling, it is definitely good enough to beat anyone on the right day. The most impressive thing about what Clark Lea has built is that Vanderbilt, which spent decades being physically inferior to their opponents, belongs on the same field with every SEC foe. Beating Alabama last year wasn’t a fluke. Beating up on South Carolina wasn’t a fluke. Vanderbilt is built for the conference in which it plays now.

20. Bring us into the replay booth: Transparency. Isn’t it unbelievable? During Clemson’s loss to Georgia Tech, the broadcast allowed the television audience to listen in on the referee deliberations while a play was being reviewed. It was incredibly enlightening and it felt so much better than anxiously waiting to hear what the call was going to be. Listening to the refs work through it was an eye-opening experience and may lead to the general audience understanding the process more. Sure, refs will still make controversial calls and people will still melt down, but bringing us behind the scenes is such a positive. The ACC plans to do it all year and I can’t wait to watch one where targeting is being discussed.