Texas, Ohio State and Nebraska Enter CFB’s Home Stretch With High Hopes

Written by: Connor Zimmerlee

As college football approaches the home stretch of the 2024 regular season, we’re seeing teams continue to jockey for position — both in the conference and national landscape. Among those teams, three of them deserve a little extra attention — and they all rest under Panini’s NIL umbrella. They are, of course, the Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-3), Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1) and Texas Longhorns (7-1).

All three have looked dominant throughout the course of the season, with the Cornhuskers and Buckeyes handling business in the Big Ten and the Longhorns adjusting quite nicely to life in the SEC.

Headlining the Longhorns has been star quarterback Quinn Ewers. Entering the year as one of the best prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, the signal-caller has looked the part of a big-time player. Missing two games hasn’t kept him from slicing and dicing defenses, as he’s thrown for 1,389 yards and 14 touchdowns in the six he’s appeared in.

For some teams, missing their starting quarterback would spell disaster. Not Texas, as Arch Manning filled in nicely. Taking the reins in Ewers’ two-game absence, he showed fans what to expect once he assumes the role of full-time starter with 920 passing yards and nine touchdowns, with an additional three scores on the ground.

Let’s turn our attention back to the north and the two Big Ten squads. The Buckeyes have flourished on the ground, boasting a rushing attack that averages a whopping 185.5 yards per game. Churning out big run after run has been Quinshon Judkins, barreling through opponents for 520 yards and six scores while averaging an impressive 6.4 yards per carry.

In Lincoln, however, they share Texas’ affinity for torching teams through the air and have averaged 248.4 passing yards per game thanks in large part to signal-caller Dylan Raiola. One of the key targets has been wideout Isaiah Neyor, an elite 6-foot-4 playmaker capable of winning jump balls and moving the chains over the middle. Through the first eight games, he’s second on the team in both catches (21) and yards (319), while leading the way in touchdowns — having found the end zone four times.

As the regular season winds down, these players will play key roles in what the rest of their respective teams’ seasons look like. With conference and national title hopes on the line, look for them to continue balling out and putting their mark on the 2024 season.