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A new blog segment where I discuss the best of what we learned, what we now know and what we still need to find out following the previous Saturday in college football.
Texas is all the way back.
If they weren’t already, they are now. This team is a juggernaut and their Oct. 19 matchup vs Georgia can’t come soon enough.
Consistency is hard to come by for certain programs.
The classic “looked terrific and won a big game one week and lay a total egg the next” mantra lived on this past Saturday, specifically in South Bend, Indiana. I’m, of course, referring to Northern Illinois’ emphatic 16-14 upset over #6 ND after the Irish were coming off a decisive road win at A&M in Week 1. Here’s what I concluded:
- Riley Leonard is a good athlete, not a good downfield thrower (some of us already knew that but others found out)
- Why does ND have a hiccup loss like this every year? (4th loss to unranked team under Marcus Freeman)
- This might have crushed the Irish’s playoff hopes, even with a manageable schedule ahead
Offensive-minded coaches with good defenses?
All of a sudden it seems that Josh Heupel and Lincoln Riley are beginning to figure out the other side of the ball. Look out Big Ten and SEC fans. Tennessee’s 51-10 pounding of NC State (the Vols did not give up a single offensive TD) and USC’s impressive defensive showing vs LSU last week and earning — dare I say — a SHUTOUT win over Utah State (first since 2013) shed light on the fact that these two programs are poised to take the next step and not have to lean on scoring 40+ every Saturday to win football games. Time will tell, but optimism is lurking.
Clemson isn’t as bad as we thought.
They’re not. Georgia is just that elite and light years ahead of 95% of the field. App State is a quality G5 program and still could end up clawing into the CFP picture if they win out and claim the Sun Belt. But Clemson embarrassed them. Cade Klubnik and the offense clicked as the Tigers took their anger out in their home debut. People love to be reactionary, especially after Clemson’s Week 1 drubbing to UGA, but this team is still an ACC title contender. The win also doesn’t make the G5 look great, unlike the way certain teams showed out…
Boise State is the CFP 12-seed front runner.
I’m still not counting you out Memphis, Tulane, Texas State, NIU, USF, UNLV, or Liberty (a lot of teams, I know), but the Broncos has so far made the case that they are the way-too-early top G5 darling in 2024. Yes, it’s only Week 2. Yes, Oregon has looked like cheeks and isn’t dominating like we pictured they would be in the preseason. But with a Heisman candidate at running back, a legitimate non-power 4 school brand, and a statement performance in a perennial national title contender’s building, Boise State is America’s G5 odds-on favorite right now. However, we do need to see progress on defense considering GA Southern hung 45 on them in Week 1. Only if the 12-team (or even 4-team) playoff was around during the Kellen Moore era. *sigh*
Where I was right: USF is good.
Maybe Alabama has a South Florida allergy, but Alex Golesh got the Bulls to take it to the Tide on Saturday night. Those who actually watched the game know that the final score doesn’t reflect how those first 3 1/2 quarters unfolded. The USF defense forced three turnovers and exposed a young, rebuilding Bama offensive line. The Bulls also outrushed Bama 206-194, with 108 of those yards belong to dynamic dual-threat QB Byrum Brown.
A name we now know: Dylan Stewart
The South Carolina true freshman edge rusher had a historic Saturday wreaking havoc against Kentucky. Don’t believe me?
In case you think he’s a one-game wonder, Stewart earned the highest grade out of any FBS player in Week 1. He’s the truth.