Week 1 College Football Scouting Notebook: Arch Manning Struggles, Garrett Nussmeier Shines, and Bryce Underwood Debuts

Brandon Lundberg
9 hours ago
7 min read

Arch Manning faltered vs. Ohio State, Garrett Nussmeier led LSU past Clemson, and Bryce Underwood impressed in his Michigan debut. Week 1 NFL Draft notes.

Week 1 Scouting Notebook

College football’s opening weekend lived up to the chaos we’ve come to expect in the transfer portal/NIL era, with upsets, breakout performances, and plenty of draft intrigue. Five AP Top-25 teams fell, including preseason No. 1 Texas, who dropped a 14–7 slugfest at Ohio State in the weekend’s marquee matchup. For scouts, it was the perfect storm of evaluation opportunities: Arch Manning’s first true road test, Matt Patricia’s impressive debut as the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator, and a wave of emerging Ohio State defenders stamping their names onto the 2026 NFL Draft radar.

Elsewhere, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier outdueled Clemson’s Cade Klubnik in a top-10 showdown, Carson Beck revived his stock with a clean debut at Miami, and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers reminded evaluators why he’s one of the most physically gifted QBs in the class. Add in dominant efforts from Big Board names like Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese, plus a dazzling debut from Michigan freshman Bryce Underwood, and Week 1 delivered everything scouts could ask for: defining performances, stock movers, and a glimpse of the future.

Spotlight Game of The Week: Ohio State vs. Texas

Arch Manning’s Growing Pains

The spotlight was suffocating for Arch Manning, and his first true road test showed why scouts were cautious about crowning him a ready-made pro. Through three quarters, Manning had just 38 yards and an interception before flashing late to finish with 170 yards and a touchdown. The traits are there — touch, arm talent, flashes of mobility — but the inaccuracy and indecision defined the night. In a game where Texas needed him to elevate the offense, he looked like what he is: a quarterback making only his third career start.

Matt Patricia’s Defensive Debut

If Manning’s struggles were the headline, Ohio State’s new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia authored the byline. His scheme was rooted in disguise and multiplicity — moving fronts, rolling coverages, and forcing Manning to diagnose post-snap. For a unit replacing eight NFL draft picks, the cohesion was striking. Patricia’s NFL background was evident, and the Buckeyes executed with speed and discipline.

Buckeye Draft Risers

Caleb Downs once again looked like the best defensive player in college football, cleaning up run lanes and delivering in critical spots. Davison Igbinosun was sticky in man coverage and sealed the game with a fourth-down breakup. But it was the emerging names who made this a statement win: Jermaine Mathews baited Manning into a pick and nearly had another; linebacker Arvell Reese was everywhere with nine tackles and a sack; and Sonny Styles finally flashed the hybrid safety/linebacker traits that had scouts projecting him as a future first-rounder. Stock up across the board.

Texas Defense Deserves Credit

Lost in the narrative of Manning’s uneven debut was a Texas defense that nearly stole the game. The Longhorns held Ohio State to just 14 points and only 77 rushing yards (2.3 YPC). They stonewalled Heisman contender Jeremiah Smith, limiting him to six catches for 43 yards. Freshman corner Graceson Littleton looked the part in his debut, and the front seven, led by Trey Moore and Colin Simmons, consistently disrupted Sayin’s timing. Even special teams made an impact, with punter Jack Bouwmeester pinning Ohio State deep three times. Red zone failures defined the loss — Texas went 1-for-5 on fourth down — but this defense showed it can anchor a playoff-caliber run if Manning finds his footing.

Key 2026 NFL Draft Quarterback Takeaways from Week 1

Garrett Nussmeier – LSU

Outduels Klubnik in Top-10 Clash, Cementing QB1 Buzz

In year two as LSU’s starter, Nussmeier delivered the type of performance that solidifies him as a true QB1 candidate. Against Clemson’s ferocious front, he finished 28-of-38 for 230 yards and a touchdown, orchestrating a clutch fourth-quarter drive capped by an 8-yard strike to Trey’Dez Green. What stood out most wasn’t the stat line but his command — Nussmeier consistently won presnap against disguised looks, kept his eyes downfield under pressure, and delivered strikes into tight windows. He may not wow with dual-threat athleticism, but his processing, mechanics, and poise under fire checked every box for an NFL evaluator.

Cade Klubnik – Clemson

Flashes Toughness but Regression Shows in Loss to LSU

Klubnik battled through relentless pressure and the loss of star WR Antonio Williams, but the result was an uneven night: 19-of-38, 230 yards, and a costly interception. He showcased his trademark grit, standing tall to deliver throws while taking hits, yet his comfort running outweighed his rhythm as a passer. Against LSU’s rebuilt but physical defense, Klubnik looked more like the raw underclassman we saw in 2023 than the polished distributor from last year’s playoff run. The arm talent and mobility are still there, but decision-making under duress remains the red flag that could cap his draft ceiling.

Arch Manning – Texas

Humbled by Ohio State’s Defense in First True Road Test

All eyes were on Arch Manning in Columbus, and his first marquee road start didn’t live up to the billing. Through three quarters, he managed only 38 yards and an interception before padding his numbers late to finish with 170 yards and a touchdown. Ohio State’s disguises and physical secondary rattled him, forcing slow reads, misfires, and stalled red-zone drives. Manning’s flashes — mobility, touch throws on the move — are still evident, but his inability to raise Texas’ offense in a playoff-style atmosphere underscores that he’s a developmental prospect, not a finished product. Scouts will chalk this up as a “learning tape,” but his stock takes an early-season hit.

Carson Beck – Miami

Efficient, Turnover-Free Debut Fuels Upset of Notre Dame

After a rocky 2024 at Georgia, Beck’s transfer to Miami was framed as a reset — and in Week 1, he delivered. In a top-10 showdown with Notre Dame, Beck completed 20-of-30 for 205 yards and two touchdowns, protecting the football and showing command in critical moments. What evaluators loved: zero interceptions, quick decisions under pressure, and ball placement that let his receivers — including breakout freshman Malachi Toney — make plays. Beck may lack elite off-script creation, but when paired with structure and timing routes, he looks like a pro-ready starter. This was a big “stock up” tape for a QB rebuilding his draft profile.

LaNorris Sellers – South Carolina

Boom-or-Bust Flashes Highlight SEC-ACC Kickoff Win

Sellers showcased why scouts are intrigued by his ceiling — and why patience is still required. The dual-threat QB accounted for two total touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) and flashed his big arm on a 64-yard strike to Nyck Harbor in South Carolina’s 24-11 win over Virginia Tech. He finished an efficient 12-of-19 for 209 yards but also absorbed four sacks, struggling at times with pocket awareness and consistency in processing. Sellers’ blend of size, athleticism, and arm strength makes him a traits-based NFL projection, yet Week 1 was another reminder he’s not refined. Still, the upside is undeniable, and the flashes will keep him firmly in first-round conversations.

Big Board Spotlight – Week 1

Rueben Bain Jr. – EDGE, Miami

Dominant Run Defender vs. Notre Dame

Miami’s rising defensive star put together one of the most disruptive performances of the weekend, earning a 93.8 PFF Run Defense Grade — the highest for any Miami defensive lineman in a single game since 2014. Bain consistently collapsed run lanes, ripped through blocks, and forced Notre Dame to alter its protection schemes. Mario Cristobal called him “as explosive as it gets,” and the tape backs it up. With his blend of leverage, burst, and raw power, Bain continues to look like a future top-15 draft pick.

CJ Daniels – WR, Miami

Catch of the Year Candidate in Prime-Time Win

The veteran wideout made one of the highlight plays of the weekend with a one-handed touchdown grab in traffic against Notre Dame. Daniels’ 20-yard score not only flipped momentum but also showcased his body control and catch radius — traits that make him more than just a complementary target in Miami’s offense. While his NFL projection will hinge on separation ability, the playmaking flashes are undeniable.

Arvell Reese – LB, Ohio State

Breakout Game in the Horseshoe

Reese looked every bit like Ohio State’s next great linebacker. He posted nine tackles, one sack, and multiple impact plays in space, including a crucial fourth-down stop on Texas’ opening drive. At 6’4”, 243 pounds, Reese plays with length, range, and closing burst that scream NFL starter. Scouts already knew he had upside, but this was the type of statement game that elevates him from “prospect to watch” to a name firmly on early draft boards.

Jermaine Mathews Jr. – CB, Ohio State

Playmaker in Marquee Matchup

Matched up against Arch Manning, Mathews delivered the lone turnover of the game, baiting the Texas QB into an interception in the third quarter. He added three tackles and a pass breakup that nearly turned into another takeaway. Physical at the line and opportunistic at the catch point, Mathews is showing the traits of a future Day 1 or Day 2 draft pick if his development continues on this trajectory.

Carnell Tate – WR, Ohio State

Stepping Up Opposite Jeremiah Smith

With Texas bracketing Smith, Tate once again stepped into the WR2 spotlight, highlighted by a 40-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. At 6’3”, 195, Tate’s ability to stretch the field vertically while complementing Smith’s skill set makes Ohio State’s passing attack nearly impossible to key on. For scouts, Tate’s size-speed blend and ability to win when attention shifts away from Smith are early signs he could climb into Round 1 discussions down the road.

One for the Future: Bryce Underwood, QB, Michigan

Freshman Phenomenon Shines in Debut

The Bryce Underwood era in Ann Arbor kicked off with a statement. The true freshman, and consensus No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class, led Michigan to a 34–17 win over New Mexico in his first career start. Underwood went 21-of-31 for 251 yards and a touchdown, flashing the arm talent, poise, and confidence that had scouts already penciling him in as a future first-round NFL Draft pick.

What stood out wasn’t just the numbers, but how Chip Lindsey’s new-look Michigan offense maximized Underwood’s traits. The Wolverines mixed tempo, layered route concepts, and rollout designs that played to his quick release and ability to throw on the move. His two-minute drill before halftime was as crisp as any Michigan quarterbacking since the J.J. McCarthy era, showcasing advanced command well beyond his age.

It’s only one game, and New Mexico wasn’t the stiffest competition, but Underwood’s presence has already transformed Michigan’s offense. His velocity forced drops from unsuspecting receivers, and his pocket maturity looked polished for an 18-year-old. The true test will come next week against Oklahoma, but make no mistake: Bryce Underwood is the future, and his NFL Draft trajectory is already on the radar for 2028.