Two weeks into the season and fans, analysts, and commentators are already circling names, replaying highlight reels, and asking themselves the same question: which players have truly shown that intangible quality that separates them from the rest? Gus Johnson, who has become synonymous with high-energy calls and a flair for spotlighting the biggest moments, has always been the kind of broadcaster who values more than statistics. He celebrates those who rise in defining instances, who play with a spark that cannot be charted in a box score. The concept of his “GOT IT TEAM” is built around this idea of intangibles. It’s not about who runs the fastest forty-yard dash, who has the highest vertical, or who leads the league in scoring. It’s about who has that magnetic presence, that knack for making plays when it matters most, that ineffable it factor. Through the first two weeks of the season, two players have already made their cases in undeniable fashion, and fans are wondering who might be next to join them.
The early part of any season is always filled with uncertainty. Teams are trying to establish rhythm, rookies are adjusting to the speed and physicality of the pro game, veterans are rediscovering their form after long offseasons, and coaches are working to fine-tune schemes. Amid that chaos, there are always a few players who look as if they’re operating on a different wavelength, players who don’t need time to warm up. They arrive prepared, sharp, and hungry. These are the ones Gus Johnson loves to call “special,” and their performances demand attention. The two names that have already risen to the surface did so not just with numbers, but with moments that defined games, and those moments resonate because sports are as much about timing as they are about talent.
What separates a player with “it” from a talented one who might fade into the background is the ability to seize the stage. In both weeks of the season so far, these two players have stepped into spotlight moments and delivered. The first came in a matchup that was nationally televised, where the stakes were high even though it was still early in the year. When the pressure mounted, he didn’t flinch. Instead, he elevated his teammates with a play that had fans out of their seats and social media exploding within seconds. Those are the kinds of plays that become season-defining even if they happen in September. They set the tone. They make opponents nervous when preparing for you. They establish confidence within a locker room. Gus Johnson, whose voice has narrated countless iconic sports moments, understands the gravity of those sequences, and he has made it clear that the first player to join his GOT IT TEAM this season deserved the honor because of how he responded to the biggest challenge in the biggest moment.
The second player followed suit a week later, in a different style but with the same resonance. His performance was less about a single explosive highlight and more about consistent dominance that couldn’t be ignored. Over four quarters, he played as if he was writing his own script, dictating the pace, forcing defenses or offenses to react to him, and showing that he could control the game almost effortlessly. That, too, is part of having “it.” Not everyone with the “it factor” does it with flash; some do it with poise, control, and an undeniable sense of command. Gus Johnson recognized that, and fans who watched knew they were seeing someone who belonged in the conversation.
Now, with those two firmly established, the fun speculation begins. Who will be the next to join? The criteria aren’t written in stone, but history has shown us that players who make Johnson’s imaginary GOT IT TEAM are often the ones who show up in moments that demand courage, resilience, and a spark of brilliance. Think about the kinds of athletes Gus has elevated in the past with his calls: players who not only score but score at the perfect moment; players who not only defend but make the game-saving block or steal; players who not only throw touchdowns but do so with an electric flair that leaves everyone talking about it afterward.
As week three approaches, there are plenty of candidates lurking. Maybe it will be a rookie quarterback who has already shown flashes of brilliance and is just one breakout performance away from putting the league on notice. Maybe it will be a veteran wide receiver who seems to have rediscovered his prime and is putting together highlight after highlight. Maybe it will be a defender, someone who has quietly anchored his unit but is on the cusp of a nationally televised breakout where a sack, interception, or forced fumble changes the entire narrative of a game. Gus Johnson has always had a soft spot for defensive players who swing momentum, and there’s a good chance one of them steps up soon.
Fans love to speculate because the GOT IT TEAM isn’t just about football—it’s about storylines, charisma, and the drama of the game. It’s about who makes you lean forward in your seat when they touch the ball, or who makes you nervous if you’re rooting against them. The magic is in the unpredictability. Anyone can pile up yards or points in a blowout, but who will rise when the pressure is suffocating and the entire stadium feels like it’s holding its breath? That’s what Gus Johnson is looking for, and that’s why the next spot on his GOT IT TEAM is so intriguing.
Consider the way fans already debate this online. Social media is buzzing with highlight clips, side-by-side comparisons, and arguments about who has shown the most grit, flair, or leadership. Some argue for a young star who seems to do something spectacular every week, while others push for a steady veteran who is finally getting his due. The beauty of the GOT IT TEAM concept is that it doesn’t have to align with MVP rankings, fantasy stats, or analytics. It’s more visceral, more instinctive. You watch a game, you feel that a player owns the moment, and you know: they’ve got it.
Through two weeks, we’ve already learned something important: this season is going to produce more than a handful of GOT IT players. The energy, the close finishes, and the emergence of new stars all suggest that we are in for a year filled with highlight-reel plays and jaw-dropping performances. Gus Johnson will be right there in the booth, voice rising with each monumental moment, giving nicknames, drawing out catchphrases, and letting the world know who belongs in that special category.
Fans should keep an eye on primetime games because those are often the stages where the next member of the GOT IT TEAM will emerge. National broadcasts, rivalry matchups, and games with playoff implications are fertile ground for players to carve their legacies. With two weeks down and the narrative already shaping up, week three looms as another opportunity for someone to etch their name into that elite list. It might be a player who has long been underrated, waiting for his chance under the lights. It might be a superstar who cements his status with another legendary moment. Or it might even be a complete surprise, a breakout nobody saw coming. That unpredictability is what makes this conversation so compelling.
The question of who will be next is not just about talent. It’s about hunger, about seizing the opportunity, about showing the world that when the spotlight is the brightest, you’re not blinded—you shine. Two players have already proven that beyond a doubt, and their places on Gus Johnson’s GOT IT TEAM are secure for now. But the season is long, the moments will keep coming, and sooner or later, another player will rise and force us all to say the same thing Gus does in those unforgettable broadcasts: this guy’s GOT IT.
As fans, the fun is in watching and waiting, seeing which game produces that spark, and recognizing it in real time. The GOT IT TEAM is more than a list. It’s a celebration of the essence of sports—the magic that can’t be measured but can be felt by anyone who loves the game. Two weeks in, we already know this season is building something special. The only question is, who’s next?
