What happened: "It's just not as efficient as last year," CBS Sports analyst @RJ_cfb said Saturday while measuring Josh Hoover's quarterback play against predecessor Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza set the offense's prior-season benchmark before departing for the NFL, where he took his first regular-season snaps on Oct. 12.

Why it matters: Following a 2025 Heisman Trophy campaign leaves a narrow margin for offensive drop-off during the October stretch of the 2026 college football regular season. Sustaining drive efficiency under a new starter dictates how much ceiling the passing attack retains entering November.

What to watch: Hoover's upcoming regular-season slate will determine whether the offense can close the efficiency gap against conference defenses.