College Football

College football: Bryce Young, Dorian Thompson-Robinson highlight Week 1's top performers

Updated Sep. 5, 2021 12:17 p.m. ET

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College football fans were treated to an outstanding slate of games Saturday, highlighted by Georgia's impressive 10-3 win over Clemson in a top-five matchup that lived up to the hype.

Earlier this week, we broke down our top newcomers in each Power 5 conference, and several of those new faces put up huge numbers in their debuts. We saw Penn State transfer QB Will Levis throw for 367 yards and four touchdowns in his first action as a Kentucky Wildcat, and Oklahoma transfer Tanner Mordecai threw for a school-record seven scores in his SMU debut.

Here is a look at the top individual performances from Saturday's games.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA

The UCLA Bruins have not had a winning season in five years. It's still early, but following a dominant 38-27 win over No. 16 LSU on Saturday night, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic in Westwood. One of those reasons is the play of senior QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who was brilliant in the victory against the Tigers. Thompson-Robinson threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns, including a 45-yard score to Kyle Phillips with 6:31 remaining to seal the win for the Bruins. 

UCLA levels score with LSU after Greg Dulcich's 75-yard touchdown, 7-7

Dorian Thompson-Robinson hits Greg Dulcich for a 75-yard touchdown reception.

Justin Flowe, LB, Oregon

Oregon fans have been waiting patiently to see a healthy Justin Flowe return to the field. They got their wish Saturday, as the former five-star recruit made his presence felt in the Ducks’ 31-24 win over Fresno State. Flowe recorded a game-high 14 tackles and forced a huge fourth-quarter fumble, which led to a game-tying field goal. The Ducks went on to score a game-winning touchdown with 2:57 remaining.

Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati

Following an impressive 9-1 mark in the 2020 season, the Cincinnati Bearcats were looking to kick off this season with a bang and prove they belong in the national title conversation. Well, mission accomplished. Desmond Ridder threw an 81-yard touchdown strike on the second play from scrimmage — the longest of his career — and the rout was on. Ridder went on to throw for 295 yards and four touchdowns while adding 31 yards on the ground and a rushing score as the Bearcats coasted to a 49-14 win over Miami (Ohio). With the victory, Ridder improves to 32-6 as a starter at Cincinnati.

Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Bryce Young’s first start as Alabama’s QB went about as well as it possibly could have. The former five-star recruit set a school record for passing yards and touchdowns in a debut as the Crimson Tide cruised to an impressive 44-13 season-opening win over Miami. Young completed 27 of 38 passes for 344 yards and four touchdowns in the victory. His four touchdowns broke a record previously held by Mac Jones and Joe Namath. That’s pretty good company.

Bryce Young and Crimson Tide roll the Hurricanes, 44-3

The Alabama Crimson Tide started their season strong, with a convincing, 44-13 win over the Miami Hurricanes. Alabama's new starting QB, Bryce Young, threw for four touchdowns in the win.

Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

Will Levis for Heisman? OK, maybe that's a little premature, but the Penn State transfer QB put on a passing clinic in his first game as a Kentucky Wildcat. Levis completed 18 of 26 passes for 367 yards and four touchdowns as the Wildcats raced to a 45-10 win over Louisiana-Monroe. Levis became the first Kentucky QB to throw four touchdown passes in a game since Maxwell Smith did so back in 2012. Levis and the Wildcats begin conference play next Saturday against Missouri.

Taulia Tagovailoa, QB, Maryland

He might not be the most popular quarterback in his family, but Taulia Tagovailoa is certainly making a name for himself. Maryland’s junior signal-caller was outstanding on Saturday in a 30-24 victory over West Virginia, as Tagovailoa was 26-of-36 with 332 yards and three passing touchdowns in the Terrapins’ season-opening win. It’s time to put some respect on Taulia’s name.

Mataeo Durant, RB, Duke

It’s not often that you see a player from a losing team on a list such as this, but when you rush for a school-record 255 yards and three touchdowns, well, you’re certainly deserving. Mataeo Durant put on a running clinic in Duke’s 31-28 loss to Charlotte on Saturday. The Blue Devils’ senior back averaged 8.8 yards per carry in this game and scored on runs of 59, 53 and five yards. 

Georgia’s defense

It would be near-impossible to choose just one player from Georgia’s defense to appear on this list. With that said, the entire Bulldogs’ defensive unit earns a spot after a dominant performance in a 10-3 win over Clemson. The Bulldogs put on a clinic, sacking Clemson QB D.J. Uiagalelei seven times, the most sacks any team has had against Clemson under Dabo Swinney. Nakobe Dean was dominant from start to finish, recording two of those sacks and adding five tackles, two of them for a loss. To find the last time Georgia held a top-five team to three points or fewer, you have to go all the way back to 1942, when the Dawgs shut out No. 2 Georgia Tech. Saturday's game was an incredible showing that should boost this Georgia team up to No. 2 in next week’s AP Poll.

Zeb Noland, QB, South Carolina

While Zeb Noland’s line of 13-for-22, 121 yards and four passing touchdowns is quite impressive, it’s the story behind his ascension to becoming South Carolina’s starting QB that makes him a no-brainer for this list. Noland, who is 24 years old, came to South Carolina as a graduate assistant on Shane Beamer’s coaching staff. But when projected starter Luke Duty went down with a foot injury, Noland stepped in and earned the starting QB role over redshirt senior Jason Brown. Noland was outstanding in the Gamecocks' 46-0 win over Eastern Illinois, becoming the first Gamecocks QB to throw four touchdown passes in a game since Jake Bentley did it back in 2018.

Tanner Mordecai, QB, SMU

Tanner Mordecai just needed a chance. The Oklahoma transfer backed up Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts and Spencer Rattler during his time in Norman, Oklahoma. He made the decision to transfer to SMU this past offseason and kicked things off with a bang Saturday. Mordecai completed 24 of 30 passes for 317 yards and a school-record seven touchdown passes in his debut. One word: impressive.

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College Football

Justin Flowe

Oregon Ducks

Desmond Ridder

Cincinnati Bearcats

Bryce Young

Alabama Crimson Tide

Will Levis

Kentucky Wildcats

Maryland Terrapins

Taulia Tagovailoa

Mataeo Durant

Duke Blue Devils

Georgia Bulldogs

Zeb Noland

South Carolina Gamecocks

Tanner Mordecai

SMU Mustangs

Zach Charbonnet

UCLA Bruins