College football's opening week has come and gone, and what a week it was. While all of us reverse-weekend-only-college-football-vampires return to our tombs (see: day jobs) to rest up for the feast to come, we reminisce over what was: a goal line stop to secure a win; a Hail Mary to a 6'8 wide out to steal a victory; a battle of potential heavyweights that wasn't decided until the final moments; a head coach's debut go down in flames against a 3-9 FCS squad; and Giggity. While we once again provide a look into what we think the national landscape looks like, we remind you all that we're no where as awesome as Doug Lesmerises. Maybe we'll scrap the whole thing and go quasi-SOS based rankings but until then, let us know where we're wrong. We've got a little less than 24 hours to revise this puppy if necessary.
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1-0. The Crimson Tide opened with lightweights San Jose State and rolled them accordingly to the tune of 48-3. Greg "Southeast Krenzel" McElroy was robot like in his efficiency completing 13 passes on 15 attempts for 218 yards and a touchdown. Freshman running back Eddie Lacy was also a revelation in helping pick up injured defending Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram ruhsing 13 times for 111 yards including 2 TDs, even going as far as to outgain "better than Ingram" Trent Richardson and his 66 yards on 11 carries (though to be fair, Richardson tacked on 2 scores of his own). 'Bama won't have much time to rest on their laurels with the Baby Nittany Lions coming to town next week. Next up: #18 Penn State. | -- |
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1-0. Ohio State opened their season with a resounding 45- 7 victory over Marshall at home. HE ATE ME was hungry, Brian Rolle Brianrolle’d folks left and right, Ty Moeller was the Jesus at Star, TP 3.0 looked as purty as 11Dub 3.0, etc. You know what’s at stake next week too. Next up: #11 Miami. | -- |
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1-0. As you probably already well know, outlasted VT 33-30 on Monday night. This one probably caused much debate and consternation around your office water cooler this morning (it most assuredly did at the 11Dub Road House). Was Virginia Tech a paper tiger or was Boise that good? I come correct from the camp that firmly believes we witnessed two of the top teams in the country do battle yesterday evening, and while yes there were moments of sloppiness, such is life when two relative juggernauts run head on into one another in Week 1 sans any kind of tangible pre-season. The Boise State players waxed endlessly about the great play of the Boise State d-line and should Boise’s secondary continue to mature as the games roll by, there’s no reason why the Broncos can’t play with the big boys on any given Saturday (or Monday as was the case this go around). Next up: BYE. |
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1-0. Took it to Rice at Reliant Stadium (home of the Houston Texans; playoffs?) 34-17. This was a bizarre one that was tough to get a read on. One second the Texas secondary looked mortal; the next their defensive line looked superhuman. Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert was hit or miss in his first ever collegiate start, though their much maligned running game looked to have come a long way from last season’s inconsistencies. The real kicker will be if the Texas offense can be consistent enough to keep them in the same breath as the likes of the rest of the Top 5 for an entire season. Next up: Wyoming. |
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1-0. Outlasted a plucky Utah State side 31-24. After nearly blowing a 21-0 lead, Oklahoma held on late and was able to close things out at home in a rocky debut against Utah State. While the talent is still there for a national championship run, the Sooners will need more consistent play from quarterback Landry Jones who threw 2 picks during the evening. Running back DeMarco Murray quietly set him up for a potential dark horse Heisman run rushing 35 times for 218 yards and a pair of scores. The Sooners won’t have much time to pat themselves on the back for making it out alive as the Seminoles come to Norman next weekend. Next up: #20 Florida State. |
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1-0. Took down Western Kentucky, 49-10. Freshman Taylor Martinez was the story in this one was ash the QB was 9/15 through the air for 136 yards while also rushing 7 times for 127 yards with 3 TDs. Returning starter at running back Roy Helu Jr., as well as the Blackshirt defense, led a decent amount to be desired (the defense gave up nearly 300 yards to the Hilltoppers). Nebraska faces a legitimate bowl opponent next weekend, however, with Robb Akey's Vandals coming to Memorial Stadium. Next up: Idaho. |
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1-0. The Hawkeyes rolled easily over Eastern Illinois, 37-7. For one brief moment, it looked like your entire way of life was in jeopardy. But worry not America: Ricky Stanzi bounced back from an early knee injury completing 18/23 passes for 229 yards in a touchdown in letting freedom ring. Adam Robinson helped with the cause rushing 24 times for 19 yards and a trio of TDs. Next up: Iowa State. |
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1-0. Won on the scoreboard over Miami University 34-12. Florida needed classless repeated 4th down and long conversions to superficially inflate a relatively sad effort against Miami University. The Redhawks, for all their mistakes, vastly outplayed the Gators and opened up all kinds of skepticism to the entirety of Florida’s 2010 campaign. Tebow replacement John Brantley looked ill prepared and despite completing 17 of his 25 passes, barely cracked the century mark totaling just 113 yards. Track crossover Jeffrey Demps finished with 98 yards rushing a TD, mostly on a long 72 yard touchdown he’ll struggle to pull off against superior opposition.Next up: South Florida. |
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0-1. Lost to Boise State 30-33. As I mentioned above, I firmly believe that Virginia Tech is still amongst the best in the country. They needed to take a temporary hit for failing to close the deal, but this team should roll through the remainder of their ACC slate. The secondary remains their one glaring weakness, but as the season goes by, Foster/Beamer should course correct and get Virginia Tech back in the late season title mix.Next up: James Madison. |
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1-0. Beat Oregon State 30-21. Quarterback Andy Dalton was back in the same sloppy form that helped lead TCU to a BCS bowl loss last January. Despite a pair of picks, the Horned Frogs (largely behind Dalton and tailback Ed Wesley's legs; 15/64 and 2 TDs and 17/134 and a TD respectively) held on and left Saturday evening with arguably the second best "resume rankers" worthy win of the weekend. Next up: Tennessee Tech. |
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1-0. Beat Florida A&M 45-0. Jacory Harris was efficient and the 'Canes beat the FCS bottom dwelling Rattlers with ease. On the plus, the 'Canes got absolutely smoked in the battle of the bands. Next up: @ #2 Ohio State. |
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1-0. Beat UNLV 41-24. The Badgers couldn't quite get that cover for all the gamble happy Badgers in Sin City, but they certainly more than held their own in dismantling the Rebels in former Montana coach Bobby Houck's debut. Next up: San Jose State. | -- |
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1-0. Beat New Mexico 72-0. Has Oregon not skipped a beat with new QB Darron Thomas? With Jeremiah Masoli too busy losing to FCS schools, the Ducks exploded in what actually could have been much, much uglier. Next up: @ Tennessee. |
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1-0. Beat Hawaii 49-36. USC looked absolutely hapless in yielding 692 yards to Hawaii's sexy, new pistol based attack. Lane Kiffin undoubtedly ripped Monte a new one for "making him look like an idiot in front of all those other mean kids at school". The Trojans none the less will continue to exempt tackling from their practices in an effort to avoid injury and likely keep the upset bug never too far from biting until they discover something resembling an identity defensively. Next up: Virginia. |
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1-0. Beat Sacramento State 52-17. How much can be gained from a victory over the best the Sacramento metro area has to offer? Harbaugh's bunch was impressive none the less in a thorough dismantling of the FCS side. Andrew Luck looked Heisman'tastic, though he'll have to do so against live bodies (such as in their Pac-10 opener this coming week) to stay on the radar. Next up: @ UCLA. |
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1-0. Beat Arkansas State 52-26. CHIZIK LOVE CUPCAKE. The Fightin' Tigers/War Eagles did their thing against an inferior Sun Belt opponent, putting up a ton of yards and points in a relatively easy afternoon. They'll have to step their game up with the conference opener just days away. Next up: @ Mississippi State, Thursday night. | -- |
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1-0. The young Nittany Lions beat the older Youngstown State Penguins 44-14. True frosh QB Rob Bolden looked the part, but just how far along he is will be tested in a hurry with the upcoming gargantuan litmus test with Next up: @ #1 Alabama. |
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1-0. The Ramblin' Wreck downed South Carolina State with the utmost of ease 41-10. Josh Nesbitt looked anything but Heisman worthy with his arm but did his flexbone thing running for 130 yards and 3 TDs. Next up: @ Kansas. |
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1-0. Petrino's bunch routed Tennessee Tech 44-3. The Razorbacks actually managed to look impressive on both sides of the ball, but it will be a few weeks before we have an honest feel for whether or not this group is for real or not. Next up: @ Louisiana Monroe. |
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1-0. Beat Samford 59-6. Dadgum: life after Bobby Bowden opened in style as the 'Noles absolutely routed their athletically inferior FCS foes. Christian Ponder kept his Heisman hopes in the realm of possibilities in the W. Next up: @ #5 Oklahoma. |
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1-0. Beat Pitt 27-24 (OT). The Utes looked legit in surviving a ferocious comeback attempt by Pittsburgh an captalized on an OT pick to open the season 1-0. Kyle Whittingham's bunch gets a far different offensive look with the spread tastic Rebels coming to Salt Lake City next weekend. Next up: UNLV. | -- |
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1-0. Beat Washington 23-17. The Cougars forced Heisman candidate Jake Locker into poor decisions all evening long and quickly put a hamper on the UDub bandwagon with a big opening season win. The Cougars won't have much time to shift gears with the versatile option-based look the cadets of Air Force just on the horizon as they travel to Colorado Springs next Saturday. Next up: @ Air Force. | -- |
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1-0. Beat Louisiana-Lafayette 55-7. New defensive coordinator Todd Grantham's 3-4 seemed to take in their opener against the Sun Belt Rajun Cajuns. QB Ginger Ninja successor Aaron Murray looked capable completing 17-of-26 passes for 160 yards, 3 TDs, and just 1 INT. Next up: @ South Carolina. | -- |
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1-0. Beat Coastal Carolina 31-0. By God WVU played Coastal Carolina like the banjo riff to "Deliverance" (and the defense didn't look half bad either). After a helacious weekend for the Big East, the conference's hopes may fall on the 'Neers. Next up: @ Marshall, Friday night. | -- |
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1-0. Beat Connecticut 30-10. Either Michigan is closer to making The Game mean what it should, or Connecticut is outstandingly mediocre. Either way, Denard Robinson looked like he'd discovered a Super Mario invincibility star in running (and throwing) all over what was supposed to be a decent Huskies D. The honeymoon may not last long with a stout test coming in South Bend next weekend. Next up: @ Notre Dame. | -- |
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