College Game Day Thread (2025 season & playoffs)

[pfish57]

Corso will be missed dude had some funny as hell moments!! Some good match ups this weekend...Roll Tide!!

[Willmark]

He makes the players around him better which is something you can’t coach and what the Raiders have desperately needed for the past 25 years—and that’s one of the reasons we take him at 1 and don’t think twice about it.

Wait a minute, we were told that it’s not possible for a QB to make those around him better when we had “the other guy” playing for us for nearly ten years. /sarcasm.

All that aside? I’ve said it a few times; once the draft starts the Raiders better be turning in the pick with his name on it. Not taking any calls, not dragging it out. Nothing.

This is the easiest layup ever.

[Attyla]

We have our QB.

And to think, at the beginning of the year no one was talking about him.
Here was what ESPN had in order prior to the season
1. Klubnik
2.Nussmeier
3. Mateer
4. Allar
5. Sellers
6. Lagway
7. Beck
8. Manning
9. Leeavitt
10. Robertson

And where did they have Mendoza? 38? That is the jump Mendoza has made. That is what turning the light on is. By October, he was ranked 4th best in the nation, a jump of 34 slots. By November, he was widely considered top 3. Now, he is the unquestioned best QB of 2025.

Couple notes. The best part of his game was being clutch last night. When they needed a 3rd down completion, he delivered. When he ran, he ran with confidence. He did not do flashy stuff, he played in the system and delivered.

[Attyla]

Was it just me or did the head ref have really high shoulders? Like he was constantly holding them up?

[Attyla]

Things to watch for tonight from both QBs since it is not a given we go with Mendoza (we are going with Mendoza)

1. Presnap adjustments are going to be interesting. Both defenses like gamesmanship and masking the coverage can be tricky to see for young QBs

Both guys did some of this, but Mendoza really did not have to much. The Ducks D looked lost

2. Center/QB exchange. Neither works under center much but that does not mean this is a lightly observed thing

Saw almost no under center work

3. Ball placement. Both had INT issues their first game (the Mendoza pick was ugly) so let's see some correction there

Clear winner here, Mendoza was even better than he was vs Alabama. that back shoulder ball of his is gold

4. Cut and run and or designed runs. Are they able to get down to avoid hits, do they run with confidence?

Mendoza looked better, Moore was desperate

5. What levels to they climb in their passes. Can either throw the clean ball to the next level?

Once Moore got over his crappy play he threw some nice balls, Mendoza just shredded their defense

6. Clock management. This will be key if the game is close

Not a factor, but Moore did try to change his tempo

7. Adjustments. We saw that with Mendoza in his last game, not so much with Moore

Moore's coach tried to put the game in his hands due to RB injuries and he failed. I am certain he did not drop his draft status much if at all. I would stay another year if I were him but he likely will not. I don't think he will throw at the combine but his pro day will be vastly important. Mendoza looked sharp and he will probably not throw at the combine as well. And other teams should save their miles for other flights during Mendoza's pro day. Hell, he should just do his pro day at the Raiders facility.

Just a few of the things I am watching for tonight. Yes, lower body and footwork are important, but that is basic stuff. We know both will have issues there but that is a college player issue across the board. I want both to audition for a NFL team tonight.

And what an audition it was

[rcraider]

Moore's coach tried to put the game in his hands due to RB injuries and he failed. I am certain he did not drop his draft status much if at all. I would stay another year if I were him but he likely will not. I don't think he will throw at the combine but his pro day will be vastly important. Mendoza looked sharp and he will probably not throw at the combine as well. And other teams should save their miles for other flights during Mendoza's pro day. Hell, he should just do his pro day at the Raiders facility.

Not convinced Moore will enter the draft, they will throw a boat load of NIL money his way, and he's only a 20 year old kid, he could use another year and I don't see him regressing next season so he will still be one of the top picks.

[Attyla]

Not convinced Moore will enter the draft, they will throw a boat load of NIL money his way, and he's only a 20 year old kid, he could use another year and I don't see him regressing next season so he will still be one of the top picks.

I would stay for sure. He screwed up last night. I am pretty sure the Jets are now considering reaching for Simpson. Or they could consider throwing a bunch of picks our way to move up to one. I would not even consider it myself.

[BoKnows81]

I think the Jets are gonna throw the kitchen sink at us for #1 pick, maybe even including Garrett Wilson. We have to be able to stand pat and grab our QB.

[Rabidraider]

I think the Jets are gonna throw the kitchen sink at us for #1 pick, maybe even including Garrett Wilson. We have to be able to stand pat and grab our QB.

What would they (Raiders) do if Jets offered Garrett and three #1s to move up one spot?

[BoKnows81]

What would they (Raiders) do if Jets offered Garrett and three #1s to move up one spot?

I still wouldn't take it. I've always said a franchise QB is priceless. Now what the Raiders will do? That I don't know lol.

[Rabidraider]

I still wouldn't take it. I've always said a franchise QB is priceless. Now what the Raiders will do? That I don't know lol.

Since the drop from Mendoza appears to be a cliff (at least for now), I agree they must draft Mendoza. Jet fans must be pissed missing out on Mendoza for .014

[Attyla]

What would they (Raiders) do if Jets offered Garrett and three #1s to move up one spot?

If the Jets threw the kitchen sink at us and we took that offer, if I am Mendoza I pull an Eli

[Hellbound]

If the Jets threw the kitchen sink at us and we took that offer, if I am Mendoza I pull an Eli

Or just opt to go back to school

[KillerRaider30]

I think the Jets are gonna throw the kitchen sink at us for #1 pick, maybe even including Garrett Wilson. We have to be able to stand pat and grab our QB.

Im leaning on Tom Brady for that strength. One head to hold off Mark from doing a Davis.
But my gut tells me Mark sees it also. Dang the entire football world saw it. And the fans come out to see him like they do Caitlin Clark.

[Attyla]

I think the Jets are gonna throw the kitchen sink at us for #1 pick, maybe even including Garrett Wilson. We have to be able to stand pat and grab our QB.

The pitch for a new head coach as got to include Mendoza. And we need to stand firm with that.

[haji81872]

One Perk with Mondoza, that Indiana fanbase. Those guys are rabid and they will follow Mendoza wherever he goes if they win the National Championship. They were as relentless as that team.