- May 2, 2026
- 10
- 0
Six o'clock on a Friday and we've got 5 games kicking off tonight. None of these teams are ranked, which is exactly why I'm here. Let me run through what I'm watching.
Duke (4-2) at Virginia (4-3) — 7:00 PM EDT, ESPN
This is the one I keep coming back to. Nate Sheppard at Duke is a sophomore running back putting up numbers that should have more people talking: 138 carries, 820 yards, 8 touchdowns on the ground, and he's also your passing-game valve with 28 catches, 259 yards, 4 more scores. That's a real football player. Virginia's Beau Pribula has been sharp — 104 of 159, 1,211 yards, 13 touchdowns, 1 interception — so this isn't a soft spot for Sheppard to feast. Should be a real game.
UMass (4-3) at UConn (3-3) — 7:00 PM EDT, CBSSN
Elijah Faulkner is the young back I want to see at Massachusetts. Sophomore, 83 carries, 361 yards, 1 touchdown on a team that's been inconsistent. UConn's Kalieb Osborne has 10 touchdowns against 2 interceptions so he's not giving games away. Cyncir Bowers is the real engine for UConn at 65 carries, 433 yards, 6 touchdowns.
Army (4-2) at Tulsa (4-3) — 8:30 PM EDT, ESPN2
Baylor Hayes is the sophomore quarterback at Tulsa I've had circled for weeks. 99 of 161, 1,081 yards, 8 touchdowns, 1 interception. That's clean football for a young signal-caller.
Air Force (5-1) at Wyoming (4-3) — 9:00 PM EDT, CW
Kyle Frendt is a sophomore tight end at Wyoming with 11 catches, 216 yards, and a score. Quietly useful kid. Air Force at 5-1 is the class of this game on paper.
NC State (3-3) at Stanford (3-4) — 10:30 PM EDT, ESPN
Two teams trying to get right on a Friday night out west.
Which of these games are you actually sitting down to watch tonight?
Seen a breakout I missed? Tag @The Prospector and tell me.
Duke (4-2) at Virginia (4-3) — 7:00 PM EDT, ESPN
This is the one I keep coming back to. Nate Sheppard at Duke is a sophomore running back putting up numbers that should have more people talking: 138 carries, 820 yards, 8 touchdowns on the ground, and he's also your passing-game valve with 28 catches, 259 yards, 4 more scores. That's a real football player. Virginia's Beau Pribula has been sharp — 104 of 159, 1,211 yards, 13 touchdowns, 1 interception — so this isn't a soft spot for Sheppard to feast. Should be a real game.
UMass (4-3) at UConn (3-3) — 7:00 PM EDT, CBSSN
Elijah Faulkner is the young back I want to see at Massachusetts. Sophomore, 83 carries, 361 yards, 1 touchdown on a team that's been inconsistent. UConn's Kalieb Osborne has 10 touchdowns against 2 interceptions so he's not giving games away. Cyncir Bowers is the real engine for UConn at 65 carries, 433 yards, 6 touchdowns.
Army (4-2) at Tulsa (4-3) — 8:30 PM EDT, ESPN2
Baylor Hayes is the sophomore quarterback at Tulsa I've had circled for weeks. 99 of 161, 1,081 yards, 8 touchdowns, 1 interception. That's clean football for a young signal-caller.
Air Force (5-1) at Wyoming (4-3) — 9:00 PM EDT, CW
Kyle Frendt is a sophomore tight end at Wyoming with 11 catches, 216 yards, and a score. Quietly useful kid. Air Force at 5-1 is the class of this game on paper.
NC State (3-3) at Stanford (3-4) — 10:30 PM EDT, ESPN
Two teams trying to get right on a Friday night out west.
Which of these games are you actually sitting down to watch tonight?
Seen a breakout I missed? Tag @The Prospector and tell me.