College football Week 1 started in earnest over Labor Day weekend, with spectators back in stadiums to watch a full slate of games stretching from Wednesday to Monday. Some teams notched early wins and filled their fans with optimism, while others only met despair in the season’s early going.
Though there are still three months until conference championship games, a few teams have put themselves in prime positions and a few have already dug themselves into holes. This is a sport that decides programs’ status by having people vote on how good they are, so there’s no reason we, too, can’t pick some winners and losers based on just one week of games. Here are a few participants whose Week 1 efforts were particularly noteworthy.
Winner: Georgia
🚨 74-YARD PICK-SIX 🚨
CHRISTOPHER SMITH INTERCEPTS DJ UIAGALELEI AND PUTS GEORGIA ON THE BOARD! #GODAWGS
The Bulldogs beat Clemson 10–3 in a blockbuster meeting in Charlotte. They notched a win despite offensive issues: Georgia didn’t score a touchdown (though neither did Clemson), and the only player to find the end zone all night was UGA safety Christopher Smith, who ran back a 74-yard interception. Georgia’s offensive output was concerning but understandable given some absences at receiver.
On the other hand, the Dawgs’ defense was excellent, and they held Clemson to just two rushing yards. (Yes, two. That’s not a typo.) Kirby Smart’s team can put up with some offensive worries given that it already has a resume win and has now built up some margin for error in its quest to make the College Football Playoff.
Loser: The ACC
Clemson (ranked No. 3) lost to Georgia. North Carolina (No. 10) lost to Virginia Tech. And Miami (No. 14) got devoured by Alabama. Though Virginia Tech is itself an ACC team, it’s still brutal for the conference to have three top-15 teams fall on the same weekend—and the opening weekend of the season, at that. The league also had arguably the most embarrassing loss of Week 1: Georgia Tech’s 22–21 failure at home against the MAC’s Northern Illinois, a team that went 0–6 in 2020.
Many of us have entertained the idea that Alabama might take a small step back in 2021 given the program’s many departures from its offense and coaching staff. The Crimson Tide poured freezing cold water on that notion by beating Miami 44–13, and the game didn’t even feel that close. Quarterback Bryce Young was brilliant, and this defense appears to be one of Nick Saban’s best: The Tide completely neutralized Miami’s star quarterback, D’Eriq King.
The Tigers need to bounce back this fall. After a 15–0 run to a national title in 2019, they sputtered to a 5–5 mark in 2020 and looked lost on both sides of the ball. Ed Orgeron hired new offensive and defensive coordinators—something a coach does when he knows a quick turnaround is vital.
The early returns are not good. LSU lost to UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Saturday night by a score of 38–27, and the Tigers seemed to be the less physical team throughout the game. Orgeron is now in the once-unthinkable position of facing some job insecurity less than two years after sitting atop the sport. College football is a tough business.
Winner: FCS teams
Six teams from the Football Championship Subdivision, the lower half of Division I, beat teams from the Bowl Subdivision (FBS) this weekend. This slate of games included Montana beating a ranked Washington in Seattle, the first time an FCS team has beaten a ranked FBS opponent in five years:
FCS victories over ranked FBS teams
2007: Appalachian State def. 5. Michigan 2010: James Madison def. 13. Virginia Tech 2013: Eastern Washington def. 25. Oregon State 2016: North Dakota State def. 13. Iowa
The Badgers lost at home to Penn State on Saturday, 16–10, despite out-gaining the Nittany Lions 365 yards to 297. They turned the ball over in Penn State’s half of the field three times, and at one point they allowed Penn State to block a 25-yard field goal attempt. UW repeatedly squandered opportunities to put themselves in command of the game, and quarterback Graham Mertz ended the day with some ugly stats: 22-for-37, passing for 185 yards, no scores, and two interceptions.
Winner: McKenzie Milton
WELCOME BACK, MCKENZIE MILTON 👏
After almost three years away from football because of a devastating leg injury, he passes for a first down in his first play and goes 4-for-4 in a TD drive. pic.twitter.com/G8A2ipCNd7
Notre Dame beat Florida State on Sunday night in Tallahassee in overtime, 41–38. Good for the Irish. The most interesting story of the night, however, was FSU quarterback Milton, who made his first appearance after suffering a gruesome knee injury at the end of the 2018 season, when he played for UCF.
At the time, Milton’s doctor just hoped he’d be able to walk again without pain, and he said anything above that “would be a bonus.” Milton rehabbed, though, and got himself back into playing shape before transferring to FSU for this season. Milton entered in the fourth quarter after starting QB Jordan Travis had his helmet come off during a play (requiring him to exit for at least the next snap), and he led FSU on a 10-point comeback to force overtime. Just for stepping onto the field, he wins the week.
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There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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