The PrimeTime Powerhouses Slate in Squad Blitz Contest Mode wastes no time. Join Squad Blitz today and make sure to click Walk-On Redshirts as your referral! Week 1 features five marquee games that could shape the playoff picture before September even begins:
Texas at Ohio State
Alabama at Florida State
LSU at Clemson
South Carolina vs Virginia Tech
Notre Dame vs Miami
The challenge: stay under the 1000 salary cap while building a competitive, high floor lineup. Here’s the Week 1 build we’re rolling with.
Our Contest Lineup (Total 990/1000)
Passing Offenses Clemson (240), Notre Dame (205) → 445
Rushing Offenses Texas (210), Florida State (150) → 360
Defense/Special Teams South Carolina (185) → 185
Total 990
Passing Offenses Clemson (240), Notre Dame (205)
Clemson (240) Cade Klubnik is one of the most proven quarterbacks in the country with 7,200 career passing yards and 57 touchdowns. His receiver trio is as complete as any Antonio Williams (908 yards) as the chain mover, Bryant Wesco (17.2 yards per catch) as the vertical threat, and TJ Moore (650 yards, 5 touchdowns as a freshman) as the breakout candidate. Against LSU’s retooled secondary, expect Klubnik to be leaned on early and often.
Notre Dame (205) This is the sneaky value play. Redshirt freshman CJ Carr makes his first start, but he inherits a loaded receiver group. Jaden Greathouse turned into a star in the playoff run, posting 13 catches, 233 yards, and 3 touchdowns in the semifinal and title game combined. Add in transfers Malachi Fields (129 career catches, 14.1 yards per catch) and Will Pauling (116 grabs, 9 touchdowns at Wisconsin) plus slot man Jordan Faison, and Carr does not need to be perfect. He just needs to distribute. At 205, Notre Dame’s passing attack is underpriced relative to its upside.
Verdict Clemson provides the premium passing anchor, while Notre Dame brings undervalued explosiveness. Together, they give you a high floor stack with real ceiling.
Rushing Offenses Texas (210), Florida State (150)
Texas (210) Arch Manning takes over at quarterback, but the safer play in Week 1 is the ground game. Junior Quintrevion Wisner returns after a 1,064 yard season (4.7 yards per carry) with 44 receptions for 311 yards, making him one of the most versatile backs in the SEC. The matchup makes this especially appealing. Ohio State replaces all four starters on the defensive line from its national title team. Reloading is one thing, but breaking in an entirely new front rarely clicks in Week 1. Expect Steve Sarkisian to lean on Wisner and the run game to steady Manning on the road.
Florida State (150) The Seminoles were among the Power Four’s least efficient offenses in 2024, but they have undergone a full rebuild. New offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and offensive line coach Herb Hand (Auburn, UCF, Texas) brought in four veteran transfers Micah Pettus (Ole Miss), Gunnar Hansen (Vanderbilt), Luke Petitbon (Wake Forest), and Adrian Medley (UCF) who combine for 134 games played, 105 starts, and more than 7,000 career snaps. The run game should improve significantly behind that experience, especially in Malzahn’s scheme with dual threat quarterback Tommy Castellanos. At just 150 salary, Florida State provides the cap relief that unlocks this build, with sneaky upside if the offensive line gels quickly.
Verdict Texas is the matchup driven ground anchor, while Florida State is the cheap value play with upside thanks to an overhauled offensive line.
Defense/Special Teams South Carolina (185)
South Carolina’s defense was one of the most reliable units in the nation last year, finishing 12th in scoring defense and 16th in total defense, while allowing 27 points or fewer in all but two games. Even with turnover, Shane Beamer and defensive coordinator Clayton White have replenished the roster through the portal.
The pass rush remains dangerous with Dylan Stewart and Bryan Thomas Jr. (11 sacks combined), plus portal help from Demon Clowney (Charlotte) and Gabriel Brownlow Dindy (Texas A&M). The secondary is experienced, led by Jalon Kilgore (48 tackles, 5 interceptions), DQ Smith, and Judge Collier (8 pass breakups) alongside NC State transfer Brandon Cisse.
The matchup makes this pick shine. Virginia Tech’s offense was inconsistent in 2024, never scoring more than 37 points in a game. The Hokies lost key offensive line starters Xavier Chaplin (to Auburn) and Braelin Moore (to LSU), and while transfers have been added, the line is still a question mark. Quarterback Kyron Drones is dynamic when healthy (27 touchdown passes, 1,200 rushing yards the last two years), but he is coming off injury and protection has been a major issue.
Verdict Against a shaky Virginia Tech offensive line and an offense still searching for rhythm, South Carolina’s defense is undervalued at 185. Expect sacks and turnovers in a favorable Week 1 matchup.
Why This Lineup Works
Passing Focused Klubnik provides proven star power, while Notre Dame’s receiver corps with breakout Jaden Greathouse makes their passing attack the best value on the slate.
Matchup Driven Rushing Texas gets a rebuilt Ohio State front, while Florida State’s transfer heavy offensive line and Malzahn scheme give them sneaky upside at bargain cost.
Defensive Anchor South Carolina is priced as a value defense but faces a Virginia Tech offense with protection issues and inconsistency.
This build spends 990/1000, avoids the cap squeeze from pricier stacks, and leans into efficiency and stability with upside baked in.
Bottom Line With Klubnik’s consistency, Notre Dame’s undervalued passing attack, Wisner pounding a rebuilt Buckeye defensive line, and South Carolina’s defense attacking a shaky Hokies offense, this low risk floor lineup is not just safe. It is primed to separate in Week 1 Contest Mode.
