- Jalon Daniels delivers efficient opening-day performance: The Kansas quarterback completed 18 of his 21 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns while adding 54 rushing yards. He avoided any turnover-worthy plays and moved the chains 14 times through the air.
- Austin Romaine dominates in the run game: The Kansas State linebacker tallied seven solo tackles and six run stops, earning an 83.9 run-defense grade. He registered a positive grade on 10 of his 32 run-defense snaps with just four downgrades.
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Week 0 offered just five games, but several stars wasted no time making a statement. Whether it was Jalon Daniels lighting up Fresno State, Iowa State notching a pivotal Big 12 win in Ireland, or Western Kentucky’s passing attack continuing to cook — standout performances were everywhere.
Here’s PFF’s Team of the Week from college football’s opening slate.
Offense
QB: Jalon Daniels, Kansas
RB: Jai’Den Thomas, UNLV
WR: Matthew Henry, Western Kentucky
WR: Cam Pickett, Kansas
TE: Garrett Oakley, Kansas State
Flex: WR Jaden Bradley, UNLV
LT: John Pastore, Kansas State
LG: Dylan Barrett, Iowa State
C: Reid Williams, UNLV
RG: Kobe Baynes, Kansas
RT: Kahlil House, Stanford
Defense
EDGE: Tobi Osunsanmi, Kansas State
EDGE: Harper Holloman, Western Kentucky
DI: Domonique Orange, Iowa State
DI: Clay Patterson, Stanford
LB: Austin Romaine, Kansas State
LB: Bangally Kamara, Kansas
CB: Aamaris Brown, UNLV
CB: Tyler Bailey, Sam Houston State
S: Marcus Neal Jr, Iowa State
S: Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen, Hawaii
Flex: S Virdel Edwards II, Hawaii
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Offensive Player of the Week: RB Jai’Den Thomas, UNLV Rebels
Jai’Den Thomas made the most of his 10 carries in a game that was tighter than first-year head coach Dan Mullen would’ve preferred. The running back racked up 147 yards and three touchdowns, with 127 of those yards coming after contact. His performance earned an 87.3 rushing grade and may have been the difference in UNLV avoiding an early upset.
Defensive Player of the Week: LB Austin Romaine, Kansas State Wildcats
The nation’s highest graded returning linebacker picked up right where he left off in 2024. Romaine was all over the field for Kansas State, finishing with seven total tackles and six run stops. He earned an 86.6 run-defense grade for his effort—another reminder why he’s a top-50 prospect on the PFF Big Board.
Quarterback of the Week: Jalon Daniels, Kansas Jayhawks
Daniels was nearly flawless in Kansas’ Week 0 win, completing 18-of-21 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns with zero turnover-worthy plays. One of his three incompletions came on a dropped pass, and he moved the chains 14 times through the air while averaging 8.4 yards per attempt. He also added 54 rushing yards, picked up a first down on the ground, forced a missed tackle and averaged 5.1 yards after contact per rush attempt.
Offensive Line of the Week: Stanford Cardinal
Stanford’s offensive line was one of the few bright spots in Saturday night’s loss to Hawaii. Three starters earned pass-blocking grades above 80.0, and the unit didn’t surrender a single sack. The Cardinal’s 76.8 team pass-blocking grade led all FBS teams in Week 0.
Run defender of the week: LB Austin Romaine, Kansas State
Romaine was a force in the run game for Kansas State, finishing with seven solo tackles and six run stops, including a tackle for loss. He was the first defender to the ball carrier on six separate plays and also recovered a forced fumble. Romaine earned an 83.9 run-defense grade, recording positive grades on 10 of his 32 run-defense snaps and receiving just four downgrades in the process.
Pass Rusher of the Week: DI Clay Patterson, Stanford
Patterson was a problem for Hawaii’s offensive line, winning on 22.7% of his 22 pass-rush snaps. He recorded two sacks, one quarterback hit and three additional wins that didn’t result in pressure. The standout effort earned him an 87.3 pass-rush grade, the highest among interior defenders in Week 0.
Coverage Defender of the week: S Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen, Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Mendiola-Jensen was rock-solid on the back end for Hawaii, allowing just one reception for 3 yards on two targets in primary coverage. He broke up two passes—including one dropped interception—and held opposing quarterbacks to a 56.3 passer rating when targeted. He earned a 77.8 coverage grade for his performance in Hawaii’s win.
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