Cover 3: Your Weekly Insight Delivered Every Wednesday

Cover 3 is a digital newsletter that covers 3 different stories around football every week. From the locker room to the front office, we’ve got you covered.

Each Wednesday, an email will land in your inbox from me, Jordan Palmer.

Our goal is not only to give you the stories you won’t get anywhere else - but another perspective that can help you build your relationship to the game, your family, and all the people you enjoy spending time with.

The QB Carousel In College, One Of The Most Crucial Times In The NFL Season, And How Conference Realignment Will Create A Lot More Quality Matchups

In today’s email:

With NIL still in its infancy and rookie contracts breaking records, keeping your QB in place at the NCAA level is crucial. How are schools going to keep their QBs around?

A lot of pre-season favorites in the NFL have had so-so starts so far and the scores show. But, once you break it down, it’s often sparked by a few key plays during the game that show a missed detail here and there. This is the part of the season where teams figure it out and win the games that matter come playoff time - because they hone in on those small details.

If you check the NCAA schedule this weekend, there aren’t a ton of big games to watch. Once the conference realignment happens, that’s definitely gonna change.

The QB Carousel In College

NIL deals have completely changed the NCAA. If you’re even a casual follower of college football, you've seen the seismic shifts lately. The introduction of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and the surge of the transfer portal have been game-changers. Sure, everyone’s been talking about it, but this is more than just chit-chat; it's fundamentally altering the recruitment landscape.

The Elite Programs Are In A Prime Position

Here’s where it gets interesting. A handful of elite programs, thanks to their eye-watering budgets, are positioned in a unique spot. They can inject resources strategically, especially at that marquee position — the quarterback — to mold the outcomes they desire. The power these schools wield? Immense.

They're looking at potential one-season wonders — quarterbacks who could lead them to a dream season, and then, just as quickly, exit stage left, either declaring for the NFL or eyeing greener pastures via the transfer portal. And if the move pays off for the school and they go on a run, they typically lose that QB that helped them, to the NFL.

QB1 Is THE Spot On The Field

Now, here’s where the musical chairs come into play. At this juncture, universities are peeking ahead, not just scoping out the five-star athletes for every other slot on the roster. Their eyes are laser-focused on a singular question: Who can slide into our system, take the snaps, and make an instantaneous splash?

That QB1 position isn’t just a spot on the team; it's THE spot. Get that choice wrong, and the consequences can ripple through an entire season.

It’s Just Getting Started

The elite schools, those storied programs with legacy and tradition, feel this pressure tenfold. They’ve got the history, the championships, and the alumni watching. And with NIL and the portal in play, the stakes are ratcheted up.

Think about it: players who are already shining at top-tier institutions might still be tempted to dance to a different tune if they perceive a brighter spotlight elsewhere.

The bottom line? The QB musical chairs are in full swing, and the tune's tempo is only picking up. Institutions, coaches, and players are all in this intricate dance. And the crazy thing? It’s still in its infancy.

Listen To The QB Room Podcast

There's one room in every NFL building where it all happens: the quarterback room. It is the room where the most high-level football conversations happen. It is the room where General Managers stop by to get a pulse of the team. It is the room where conversations can range from game plans to life plans. It is The QB Room.

I partnered with Kyle Allen (QB for the Buffalo Bills) to give you access to this room few people have ever experienced.

Watch on Youtube

Listen on Apple

One Of The Most Crucial Times In The NFL Season

Let’s get one thing straight about the NFL right out of the gate. At this juncture, you can pretty much bucket teams into two categories: those that have the vibe and potential to go on a serious run, and those that just don’t.

The Bengals Have That Spark

But here's the kicker. Early in the season, it's not all about the W’s and L’s on the board. Take the Bengals, for example. Ignore that 3-3 start. Anyone tuned into their games can sense it — they’ve got that spark.

They've always had that chance to string together win after win, and it doesn’t matter that they began with a couple of stumbles. Throw in a couple more 3 TD games for Ja’Marr Chase and they’re back to the contenders we know them to be.

All Contenders Have Had To Battle

Looking around the league, even teams that everyone’s pegging as contenders have shown they’re human. A missed step here, a misread there, and boom, a game slips away. Detroit had it rough recently.

Looking around the league, even teams that everyone’s pegging as contenders have shown they’re human. A missed step here, a misread there, and boom, a game slips away. Detroit had it rough recently. The Niners are shaking off two consecutive losses but we know Brock Purdy is itching to bounce back.

Bills? Yeah, they’re on fire, but even they couldn’t dodge a loss to the Patriots. And speaking of surprises, the Chiefs barely pulled off a win against the Jets, who while talented, were still building comfort with Zach Wilson as their starter.

No Team Keeps It Rolling For 17 Weeks Straight

But here’s the real talk: as much as the script remains consistent year in, year out, every season brings a fresh narrative. Now is the time when the real ballers start syncing up. It isn’t just about those highlight-reel plays. It's down to the details.

I’m talking precise route depths, spot-on timing, getting sequences just right, quarterback progression - the whole shebang. And trust me, no team just hits the turf running with all this from week one and keeps it rolling for 17 straight games.

Since the ‘72 Dolphins, only the 2007 Patriots have been able to do it but they had Prime Brady throwing to Moss and Welker with an all-time defense to back him up.

The teams that dial it in just a tick faster, they’re the ones setting themselves up for a sweet spot come playoffs. Add the unpredictability of injuries to the mix, and you'll have your top-tier squads emerging. The upcoming month? It’s more than a set of games on a calendar. It's the proving ground. Time to see who steps up to the plate.

How Conference Realignment Will Create A Lot More Quality Matchups

Take a moment and look at the upcoming slate for college football this weekend. For a connoisseur of the sport like myself, it's always exciting, but let’s be real: the lineup is slightly underwhelming. Let’s break it down, shall we?

A Look At The Weekend

Florida St tangling with Wake Forest, with a spread that's almost 3 TDs at +20. Over in A&M territory, they're facing off against South Carolina - neither team is even ranked. The mighty #1 Georgia is squaring up against an unranked Florida squad, spotting them a solid 14 points.

Then, Oregon and Utah are prepping for a colossal face-off. The twist? Utah’s secret weapon - former walk-on, quarterback Bryson Barnes will be leading their charge. Though the names aren’t the most recognized, the game has intrigue.

Moving along, there's USC taking on Cal, #5 Washington against Stanford, and then UCLA dancing with Colorado. Rounding out, #12 Ole Miss will try to keep Vanderbilt at bay with a whopping +24 spread.

Simply put: out of the entire buffet of college games this weekend, there's a shortage of marquee matchups.

Pivot To The NFL

Now, pivot to the NFL. It’s a different ball game (pun intended). Philly's got divisional opponent Washington, while Green Bay and Minnesota have a lot at stake. The Cowboys and Rams are prepping for a showdown that has a lot on the line for both of them, and the Chiefs are gearing up for a high-octane clash with Denver.

Game after game that could pivot the trajectory of the season and shape the playoff picture. Early enough in the season that most teams are still in it, and late enough in the season that has teams emerging from a slow start.

College Football Needs A Shakeup

This contrast paints a vivid picture. College football needs a shakeup, a refresh, a new coat of paint. Enter: Conference Realignment.

Imagine a world where USC fans sport a burning passion, not just for their West Coast rivals, but for Michigan. Picture Penn St. fans circling the date they face Oregon, their newfound adversaries. UCLA? Their new rallying cry is taking down the titan that is Ohio St.

This realignment isn’t just about shuffling teams; it’s about building monumental matchups, weekend after weekend. Imagine 9, 10, 11, heck, even 12 marquee games EVERY weekend.

The realignment debate has its fair share of pros and cons, no doubt. But the prospect of supercharged weekends filled with blockbuster college games?

That's a tantalizing 'pro' if I've ever seen one. The gridiron awaits these seismic shifts, and personally, I'm all in for the ride. Get ready… college football’s landscape is about to get wilder.