Spencer Rattler and DJ Uiagalelei, D’Eriq King and Sam Howell.
They have more in common than just being quarterbacks. They were among the poster boys entering the season for name, image and likeness (NIL), Heisman Trophy candidates who have so far flopped.
On Saturday night, Oklahoma’s Rattler was booed by his own fans, who were chanting for him to be replaced by his backup, Caleb Williams, in a narrow win over West Virginia that continued his underwhelming start to the season. Uiagalelei has massively struggled, failing to show anywhere close to the potential he flashed in two starts last year, and Clemson has now lost two regular-season games for the first time since 2014.
Howell threw three interceptions in a season-opening loss to Virginia Tech and North Carolina already has two defeats in the woeful ACC. Then there is King, who is expected to make seven figures this year. He’s thrown more interceptions (four) than touchdowns (three), and is now dealing with a shoulder injury for 2-2 Miami.
So, what does all this tell us? Is the money and the extra time needed to satisfy these companies impacting these players? Is it merely a coincidence they have underperformed? Is the pressure getting to them?
It’s obviously so early in the NIL era that it’s impossible to know the exact reasons. Every player is almost certainly experiencing something different. The money hasn’t hurt Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who is the early Heisman leader for the undefeated Crimson Tide.
In the preseason, when I wrote a piece about NIL, former Alabama quarterback and ESPN analyst Greg McElroy raised a very good point. These players would no longer be viewed as amateurs. While they aren’t getting paid directly for performance technically, these quarterbacks wouldn’t be lining their pockets if they were ordinary students. At least part of the vitriol directed at Rattler had to be the result of that. But he has insisted it hasn’t impacted him.
“Yeah, no, there isn’t any distractions,” Rattler told reporters recently. “Just straight football. That’s my focus.”
Moving forward, I believe you can expect companies to be more careful with whom they invest in. There is no doubt some are second-guessing themselves for some of the partnerships that were established before the season. Struggling stars don’t sell.
This, of course, can change. Rattler and Oklahoma are still undefeated, despite three very close home games against mediocre competition. He has plenty of time to turn it around. Uiagalelei is only a sophomore and remains a very strong NFL prospect, provided he can rediscover his form from last year. In the wide-open ACC, King and Howell could lead Miami and North Carolina to strong finishes.
Early on, though, the big NIL names aside from Young haven’t lived up to the hype. How they respond may determine how future stars are handled in this new marketplace.
That was quick
Clemson was all but eliminated from the College Football Playoff on Saturday when it was knocked off by N.C. State in double overtime. It now has two losses — more than it had in any single regular season since 2014. The Tigers are battling injuries, underperformance and an unproductive offense.
This will be the first time since the inaugural year of the playoffs that Clemson won’t be in it. It’s been quite a run for Dabo Swinney and Co., featuring two national championships and two superstar quarterbacks in Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence.
As the Tigers fade, at least this year, it is a reminder of how impressive the never-ending dynasty at Alabama is. The Crimson Tide lose players and assistant coaches every year. They will have a down season every now and then — Alabama did fail to reach the playoff in 2020 — but since 2008, the lowest it has finished in the Associated Press poll is No. 10. It has won six national titles since then and is favored to win a seventh this January. As we’re seeing with Clemson, it’s incredibly difficult to remain at the top.
And now for something different …
Parity can be a good thing. It provides opportunities for new programs and draws in new audiences. This weekend, for instance, the three best games include Cincinnati, Ole Miss and Arkansas, three programs that have never reached the playoff. Cincinnati visits No. 9 Notre Dame, Ole Miss takes on No. 1 Alabama and Arkansas has No. 2 Georgia. Another intriguing contest includes undefeated Maryland, which will meet fifth-ranked Iowa in a Big Ten showdown. This is something the sport has needed after the same programs reach the playoff year after year. It can only enhance interest.
The Post’s top 10
- Alabama (4-0) (Last week: 1)
How many times will Nick Saban show Alabama film of last year’s poor defensive showing against Ole Miss ahead of Saturday’s rematch? We’re going to install the Over/Under at 10, and pound the Over. The Crimson Tide were shredded for 48 points and 647 total yards by the Rebels in a hard-fought victory a year ago.
- Georgia (3-0) (2)
The Bulldogs’ stifling defense has allowed two touchdowns in four games, but more tests are coming: Three ranked opponents in the next month, starting with surprising Arkansas on Saturday in Athens.
- Oregon (4-0) (3)
Superstar defensive end Kayvon Thibodeau returned and Oregon cruised past Arizona. It was another good week for the Ducks.
- Penn State (4-0) (4)
A Nittany Lions fan pointed out my error in the preseason of omitting wide receiver Jahan Dotson from our top receivers list. Dotson, now with two 100-yard receiving games and a touchdown in each contest, absolutely belonged there.
- Cincinnati (3-0) (7)
Here it is: A top-10 road game in the national spotlight. Cincinnati can make a loud statement by winning at Notre Dame. The country will be watching.
- Oklahoma (4-0) (5)
Oklahoma is finding ways to win, ugly as they may be. The home wins over Tulane, Nebraska and West Virginia, by a combined 15 points, don’t generate much confidence. But it beats the alternative. Ask Clemson.
- Iowa (4-0) (6)
The Hawkeyes better be careful. They are getting used to playing with fire, letting Colorado State hang around a week after Kent State played them even for most of a half. Iowa isn’t good enough to get away with this once Big Ten play resumes Friday against Maryland.
- Arkansas (4-0) (NR)
There isn’t a better story in college football. Entering the season, Arkansas was 11-35 the last four years. Now, after the upset of Texas A&M on Saturday, the Razorbacks are off to their best start since 2003, with tons of momentum going to Georgia.
- Ohio State (3-1) (9)
It’s been this kind of September for Ohio State: Even when it wins easy, as it did against Akron, there is bad news. Frustrated linebacker K’Vaughan Pope walked off the field in the second quarter following a heated exchange with an assistant coach and later cursed out the school in a tweet and Sunday was tossed off the team.
- Notre Dame (4-0) (NR)
This was by far the Irish’s best performance of the season, even if Wisconsin was over-ranked. The 41-13 beatdown, which featured third-string quarterback Drew Pyne forced into the game due to injuries, makes you think that if Notre Dame can get by Cincinnati a second straight trip to the College Football Playoff is very realistic.
Dropped out: Clemson (2-2) and Texas A&M (3-1)
Heisman Watch (in alphabetical order)
QB Matt Corral, Ole Miss
Corral will not find a better stage — Tuscaloosa against undefeated Alabama and Nick Saban Saturday afternoon — on which to make a Heisman statement. It’s your show, kid.
QB JT Daniels, Georgia
Daniels has started seven games at Georgia and the Bulldogs have won them all. In that time, he’s thrown 15 touchdowns and four interceptions. If both of those trends continue, he’s guaranteed to be a Heisman Trophy finalist.
QB Jake Haener, Fresno State
The nation’s leader in passing yards (1,842), Haener beat UCLA and nearly Oregon, and is coming off a five-touchdown, 378-yard performance in a win over UNLV.
QB Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
Tua’s younger brother has been brilliant, throwing for over 300-yard three times while tossing for 10 scores and just one pick to key Maryland’s unexpected 4-0 start.
QB Bryce Young, Alabama
The sophomore finally threw an interception — maybe he is human? — but he also tossed five touchdown passes and threw just two incomplete passes in a blowout of Southern Miss.