The NFL preseason rolled on, but this weekend also marked two huge milestones: the return of college football and the first wave of fantasy football drafts for 2025. And in true Overreaction Monday fashion, the takes are already flying hotter than an August tailgate grill.

Western Kentucky: Maverick McIvor, 401 Yards, 3 TDs… and Name of the Year?

Western Kentucky’s passing game is once again must-watch television. Quarterback Maverick McIvor lit up defenses with 401 yards and 3 touchdowns in Week 1, reminding everyone that the Hilltoppers are still the undisputed kings of the Air Raid.

And let’s be honest: the name alone is elite. Maverick McIvor might already be the frontrunner for Name of the Year in college football. Add in the stat line, and you’ve got a preseason storyline too good to ignore.

Overreaction: Forget the Heisman watch lists. College football’s true QB1 is hiding in Bowling Green—and he might already own the best name in the sport.

Hawaii Knocks Off Stanford: Island Party

The Rainbow Warriors knocked off Stanford 23–20 in their home opener, a program-defining victory that had fans rocking in Honolulu. It wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. Hawaii showed grit, execution, and the kind of swagger that could turn them into more than just an underdog story this season.

Overreaction: Hawaii isn’t just here for upsets—they’re a dark horse ready to make noise all season long.

Draft Room Madness: Bears Sliders, “BILL” Croskey-Merritt, and RB Chaos

It wasn’t just preseason football making noise this weekend—the fantasy draft rooms were buzzing too. And if early trends hold, 2025 is shaping up to be a wild year.

Chicago Bears falling too far: In multiple drafts, Bears skill players slid rounds further than expected. For an offense with real firepower, that’s the kind of market overreaction that sharp drafters can exploit.

Jacory “BILL” Croskey-Merritt in Round 6: In my very first live draft of the season, Washington’s rookie RB went in Round 6. That’s right—fantasy managers are already planting their flags, and the hype train is rolling early.

Browns and Jaguars backfields overloaded: Somehow, both Cleveland and Jacksonville had THREE different running backs drafted each. Talk about committees—navigating those backfields is going to test even the savviest managers.

But maybe the biggest realization? There’s a hard cliff after the top 15 running backs. Once you’re outside that tier, you’re into pure projection and committee headaches. That means if you want stability, you might need to lock in two RBs within the first three rounds.

Overreaction: Draft RBs early, or get left scrambling. Because once the top 15 are gone, you’re drafting hope, not production.

Final Word

It’s only preseason, but the overreactions are already in midseason form:

Maverick McIvor has the Hilltoppers offense flying high—and might have locked up Name of the Year. Hawaii just shook up the landscape with a signature upset win. And in fantasy circles, the draft board is teaching us early lessons: don’t fade Bears, keep an eye on “BILL” Croskey-Merritt, beware crowded backfields, and draft your RBs early.

Overreaction Monday? Absolutely. But that’s half the fun.