Is Missouri’s QB Room Actually Cursed?

Welcome back, panic-button smashers, depth chart detectives, and fans already calculating how many NIL deals it takes to buy a new offensive coordinator.

Ever wonder what happens when a quarterback’s season ends after one snap, two Power Five coaches get canned before the leaves even change, and Florida decides a firing spree is the best way to prep for a rivalry game? Welcome back, fourth-down calculators, hot seat thermometers, and fantasy managers pretending Jaydn Ott isn’t eating up a roster spot. College football is the only sport where implosion is a feature, not a bug.

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📰 Two-Minute Drill

Missouri’s QB Curse Strikes Again
Sam Horn’s season lasted exactly one snap before a fractured tibia sent him to surgery. This is the same guy who already lost a year to Tommy John. Missouri now turns to Penn State transfer Beau Pribula, proving once again that Mizzou quarterbacks are basically a renewable injury resource.
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Portal Season Gets a Makeover
The NCAA just voted to kill the spring transfer portal window. Instead, starting in January 2026, players will get one 10-day window to jump ship right after the new year. Because nothing says “student-athlete welfare” like forcing 19-year-olds to choose between a new team and a New Year’s hangover.
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Julian Sayin Cashes In
It took Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin about two weeks of football to land his first big NIL deal. Freshman quarterbacks used to get Gatorade dumped on them; now they get Gatorade stock options. Somewhere, Ryan Day is refreshing Venmo.
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Hot Seat Watch: Now With Extra Flame
ESPN dropped its annual list of coaches most likely to get fired before Halloween. It’s a buffet of buyout math, alumni rage, and awkward press conferences waiting to happen. Reminder: “mutual parting of ways” is just code for “your AD changed the locks.”
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Dabo Wants Rules. Lots of Rules
Clemson’s Dabo Swinney is lobbying for a hard five-year eligibility cap to “clean up” the sport. Translation: if you’re 23 with three medical redshirts and a COVID waiver, pack your bags. Also, bold take from the man who once compared NIL to “the wild west.”
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🍿 The Popcorn Games

No. 9 Illinois @ No. 19 Indiana
📍 Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
🕒 Saturday, 7:30 PM ET on NBC
A Big Ten clash with playoff overtones in September? Don’t adjust your glasses. Illinois has rolled out to a hot start, but now faces a road test against a ranked Indiana squad eager to prove they belong. Both defenses hit hard, both offenses have playmakers, and the winner walks away looking like Ohio State’s biggest headache.

No. 4 Miami @ Florida
📍 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL
🕒 Saturday, 7:30 PM ET on ABC
Welcome to a Sunshine State street fight. Miami enters looking like a playoff contender, while Florida’s playing for pride, survival, and recruiting ground. The Gators haven’t forgotten their collapse against USF, and now they get a chance to derail Miami’s hype train under the lights in The Swamp. Upset potential? Absolutely—this rivalry never plays out clean.

No. 24 Notre Dame @ Purdue
📍 Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
🕒 Saturday, 3:30 PM ET on NBC/Peacock
Notre Dame at 0-2 but still clinging to a ranking feels like pure college football chaos. Now the Irish have to head into Purdue, where the Boilers smell blood in the water. For Marcus Freeman, this is already must-win territory, while Purdue sees the chance to flip their season with a signature win. If Notre Dame stumbles again, the internet might melt.

🎯 Start. Sit. Cut. – Fantasy Player Movement

Start – Ahmad Hardy – RB, Missouri
Ahmad Hardy has been the SEC’s surprise breakout, averaging 25.6 fantasy points per game after transferring from UL Monroe. His Week 3 eruption — 22 carries, 250 yards, and 3 touchdowns, showed he’s not just keeping up with SEC speed, he’s torching it. Missouri’s offense has handed him feature-back volume, and he’s proven he can deliver against Power 5 competition. He’s a must-start until further notice.

Start – Omar Cooper Jr. – WR, Indiana
Cooper Jr. went from preseason anonymity to fantasy stardom in three weeks. He’s averaging 27.8 fantasy points per game, highlighted by a 10-catch, 207-yard, 4-touchdown explosion in Week 3. Under Curt Cignetti, Indiana’s offense is wide open, and Cooper has established himself as the primary deep threat. He’s available in far too many leagues, and his production makes him an automatic start.

Sit – Jaydn Ott – RB, Oklahoma
The Cal transfer came in with lead-back expectations, but he’s currently listed as RB3 behind Jovantae Barnes and freshman Tory Blaylock. Add in lingering shoulder and ankle issues, and Ott’s usage just isn’t there yet. Oklahoma seems intent on easing him back for bigger games, which makes him a risky start until he climbs back up the depth chart.

Sit – DJ Lagway – QB, Florida
Lagway’s preseason hype hasn’t translated into consistent fantasy numbers. Five interceptions against LSU exposed his struggles reading coverages, and his mechanics still look raw. He has the tools to bounce back in the right matchup, but for now, his volatility makes him a “sit” unless you’re desperate at QB.

Cut – Jaydn Ott – RB, Oklahoma
Yes, he’s in both categories, and here’s why: if you’re in a shallow league, Ott isn’t worth the wait. Injuries, a crowded backfield, and inconsistent touches have killed his floor, and there are higher-upside options on waivers. In deeper leagues, he’s a stash-and-hope, but in standard formats, he’s droppable.

🩼 The Walking Boot – Injury Update

LaNorris Sellers, QB – South Carolina
South Carolina’s offense is holding its breath after quarterback LaNorris Sellers exited in the second quarter against Vanderbilt with a concussion following a targeting hit. Coach Shane Beamer said Sellers must practice by midweek to play against Missouri, though early reports lean optimistic. If he sits, Luke Doty would take over, but his modest showing versus Vandy leaves fantasy managers better off streaming another option.

Lee Beebe Jr., RB – Indiana
Indiana’s backfield depth took a major hit when Lee Beebe Jr. suffered a non-contact right knee injury during the Hoosiers’ 73-0 rout of Indiana State. The UAB transfer had been averaging 7.7 yards per carry with 209 rushing yards through three games, flashing as a breakout contributor. With Beebe done for the season, Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby will handle the bulk of carries, while Khobie Martin gets a chance at expanded work.

Ryan Williams, WR – Alabama
Alabama’s wide receiver room can breathe easier as Ryan Williams has cleared concussion protocol and returned in style. After missing Week 2, he exploded for 165 yards against Wisconsin, ranking sixth nationally in receiving for the week. Coach Kalen DeBoer confirmed Williams is expected to play moving forward. Fantasy managers can safely insert him back into lineups, as his elite speed and role in Alabama’s passing attack make him a weekly WR1 option.

💥 Dumpster Fire 5 – Pain Rankings (Week 0: Preemptive Edition)

Think of this as a weekly watch list for implosion, where programs already smell like smoke before the blaze is obvious. Injuries, distractions, and PR flops are piling up faster than excuses at a Monday press conference. These five teams aren’t just wobbling, they’re auditioning for the full-on collapse reel.

1. UCLA
   From “maybe Chip Kelly stability carries over” to “fired your coach after losing to New Mexico,” UCLA set the early bar for dumpster sparkle. DeShaun Foster lasted all of three games in year two, now out after an 0-3 start capped by a 35-10 embarrassment at home. Nico Iamaleava was supposed to be the transfer QB savior, but instead he’s stuck holding the bag. The Bruins are already bracing for portal chaos, and the season feels like an open flame near a gas leak.

2. Virginia Tech
   Virginia Tech fans didn’t just boo Saturday, they checked out before halftime as Old Dominion raced to a 28-0 lead in Lane Stadium. Brent Pry was fired Sunday after an 0-3 start, finishing 16-24 overall and an abysmal 1-12 in one-possession games. The Hokies went from “maybe stability year four” to “clean slate” in less than a month. With fans demanding a reset and recruits eyeing the exit, this isn’t just smoke, the whole thing’s already burned down.

3. Oklahoma State
   Mike Gundy’s mullet can only hide so much smoke, and a 69-3 loss to Oregon lit up the whole sky. It was the worst loss of his tenure, and it landed right as his buyout quietly dropped by $10 million, suspicious timing for a man hearing the hot seat sizzle. At 0-2 with no answers, OSU looks overmatched in every phase, and the whispers are growing: Gundy might not even make it to the 2026 media guide.

4. Florida
   The Gators’ swamp is bubbling for all the wrong reasons after losing at home to USF, 18-16. Billy Napier is now 20-20 in Gainesville, with a 10-14 mark in SEC play, and the program has fallen from No. 15 preseason to unranked in a blink. The offense looks stuck in the mud, and recruiting momentum is leaking like a cracked pipeline. The hot seat isn’t just warm, it’s sizzling, and the schedule only gets nastier from here.

5. Kansas State
   Kansas State opened the season at No. 17, but after a flop in Dublin and a 1-3 start, they’ve already set a “first to four losses” pace. The Wildcats rank 116th nationally on third downs, converting just 31%, a brutal stat for a team built on efficiency. Chris Klieman’s squad looks listless, and fans are watching confidence bleed away in real time. With Big 12 play heating up, this feels dangerously close to “oh no” mode.

🎲 The Spread Option – Week 4 Picks

We’ve stopped trying to beat Vegas with logic. After a 2-2 split last week, our season tally sits at a sobering 4-8-1 — the sportsbook still thanks us for our donations. This week we’re leaning into revenge angles, rivalry juice, and home underdogs that smell like trouble. Time to dig out of this hole with a little underdog therapy.

Record Last Week: 2-2
Season Total: 4-8-1

🎯 Revenge Game of the Week – Auburn vs. Oklahoma (-6.5)

Jackson Arnold’s return to Norman is the ultimate soap opera. He’s now Auburn’s starter, facing the program that benched him a year ago, and the Tigers are catching almost a touchdown on the road in Norman. Oklahoma is still riding high after the Michigan win, but the line jumped two points thanks to public love on the Sooners. That’s exactly the kind of inflation you fade. Auburn has covered four straight as an underdog, make it five.

Pick: Auburn +6.5

🏈 Trap Game Special – Nebraska vs. Michigan (-2.5)

Michigan heads to Lincoln with a freshman QB making his second road start and head coach Sherrone Moore suspended for NCAA violations. Associate head coach Biff Poggi will be leading the Wolverines as Moore is serving a university-imposed suspension, creating uncertainty in the coaching structure. Nebraska has been begging for a ranked scalp since 2016, and Dylan Raiola looks ready to deliver in this Big Ten opener at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers smell blood in the water with Michigan's coaching disruption and are getting points at home in a prime upset spot.

Pick: Nebraska +2.5

🍳 Iron Skillet Showdown – TCU vs. SMU (+6.5)

The final chapter of the Iron Skillet rivalry comes with extra heat. Last year TCU turned it over five times while SMU scored three non-offensive touchdowns in a 66-42 track meet. This time the Frogs are favored by nearly a touchdown, but rivalry games have a way of throwing out the script. SMU has won two of the last three and brings enough unpredictability to keep it tight.

Pick: SMU +6.5

💰 High-Value Underdog – Florida vs. Miami (-7.5)

College GameDay sets up in Coral Gables on Saturday morning, and the game itself kicks at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens that night. Miami is ranked and getting plenty of public love, but seven and a half is a lot in a rivalry this salty. Florida’s desperate to salvage its season after shocking losses to USF and LSU. The seat under Billy Napier is scorching, but the team hasn’t quit, and desperate dogs bite.

Pick: Florida +7.5

🛡️ Bonus Play – Under 45.5 Michigan vs. Nebraska

Two teams that want to establish the run and control the clock in a classic Big Ten grinder. Michigan's freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood will be managing the game on the road rather than slinging it around, while Nebraska prefers to keep things on the ground with their power running attack. Both defenses have shown they can get stops, and this total feels inflated for what should be a possession-by-possession battle. When the weather gets crisp in Lincoln and both teams want to shorten the game, points become precious.

Pick: Under 45.5

That’s all for this round of quarterback curses, hot seat sizzles, and rivalry spread traps. Until next time, never trust a preseason poll, always assume your kicker has the yips, and remember the backup QB is only great until he actually plays.

— The Convert on Fourth Down Team

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