Finally, after a long offseason that featured high profile quarterbacks transferring, arguments about playoff expansion, and much anticipation, college football is officially back for the 2019-20 season. Week 1 featured several premier matchups, disappointments, and outstanding personal performances. All season long I will be breaking down the best and worst from the previous week throughout the college football world, as well as previewing the upcoming week of action.
Week 1 Wrap Up:
Most Impressive Team Performance: In a week where so many teams played schools from lower divisions, the list of teams who had the opportunity to really impress is small. While Auburn was the only team to beat a Top 25 ranked opponent in Week 1, the team who opened my eyes the widest was the Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin was one of only three ranked teams to win a true road game in the first week of the season and were the only one who visited a team who finished last year with a winning record. The Badgers dominated USF by a score of 49-0 despite the game being played in the August heat and humidity in Tampa, Florida. Wisconsin held USF to only 26 yards rushing for the entire game on 23 attempts. The Badgers’ star Running Back, Johnathan Taylor, ran for 135 yards as well as scoring four touchdowns in the opening game of what could be his Heisman Trophy winning season.
Most Disappointing Team Performance: There are several teams who could fit into this category, as there are more than a couple fanbases who previously had high hopes for the season, already counting the days until the next season begins. Missouri, South Carolina, and Florida State all lost as at least a touchdown favorite with the latter two doing so at home. However, nobody can hold a candle to what Tennessee managed to pull off on Saturday afternoon when they lost 38-30 to Georgia State. Tennessee came into the game as more than 25 point favorites over a team who had managed only a 2-10 record last year. The Volunteers defense was manhandled at the line of scrimmage, allowing 213 rushing yards and the offense only hurt the cause further by turning the ball over three times and failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities, resorting to kicking three field goals instead of scoring touchdowns. Oh yeah, and Tennessee paid Georgia State $950,000 to come and beat them on opening day.
Best Game: There are really two options in my mind for the best game of Week 1; Auburn’s last second touchdown to beat Oregon was thrilling and when you consider it was thrown by the first true freshman to start for the school on opening day since the 1940’s. However, the matchup between Purdue and Nevada was even more exciting. Nevada hosted their Big 10 opponent and began the game as an 11 point underdog, and for the better part of three quarters looked like the inferior side. Trailing by a score of 31-14 with only a little over 18 minutes to play, with a quarterback who was making his first start since his junior year of high school, it appeared the Wolf Pack would be starting the season 0-1. However, Nevada scored the next 17 points to tie the game and intercepted Purdue’s quarterback with 38 seconds left. That set up a walk-on kicker to make a 56 yard field goal as time expired to win the game. The kicker, Brandon Talton, was then awarded a scholarship in the locker room following the win.
Best Individual Performance: I have already touched on some of the more exciting moments from Week 1, but there was no more impressive performance than that of Oklahoma quarterback, Jalen Hurts. Hurts, who is a graduate transfer from Alabama began his Sooners career in primetime on Sunday night and hit the ground running. He was both the teams’ leading passer and rusher, accumulating a total of 508 yards and six touchdowns. For a school that has produced back-to-back Heisman Trophy winners in Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, neither one of them had played a game in which they ran and threw for three touchdowns each. Oklahoma may very well have found themselves a third straight Heisman winner if Hurts continues to play like this.
Week 2 Preview:
Team Who MUST Win: It may sound weird, but the defending National Champions and #1 ranked Clemson Tigers absolutely need to win a Week 2 game, they really do. Clemson is one of only two ACC teams who is currently in the Top 25, and are playing one of their only two ranked opponents all season. A loss to 12th ranked Texas A&M would mean that as currently constituted, the Tigers would have a very hard time getting enough quality wins to make it into the playoffs as a one loss team. It would open the door to being on the outside looking in come December if there are four undefeated teams out there. Additionally there would be a possibility with the loss coming to a team in the SEC, that the conference could get two teams in the playoffs over Clemson.
Best Chance For An Upset: Many teams really haven’t started to get into the meat of their schedules in Week 2, and the teams who played tough matchups last week are facing easier competition this weekend. However, I believe there are at least a couple spots worth watching for potential upsets. The best opportunity comes with the 22nd ranked Syracuse Orange going on the road to play Maryland. Maryland blew out Howard last week 79-0 while Syracuse shut out Liberty 24-0. Games that kickoff at noon on the east coast always perk my interests for upsets due to the fact the road team might not be ready to go come gametime. Combine that with the fact that Syracuse might already be looking forward to their home opener next Saturday when they host #1 Clemson and Maryland will be hungry for a win over a ranked team. I am putting Syracuse on upset alert.
Biggest Game: This one is tough. It really comes down to Texas A&M at Clemson and LSU at Texas. I think I have to go with the LSU and Texas game. This is the first matchup of the season that features both teams ranked within the top 10 and the winner would essentially earn themselves a mulligan if they slip up against a team near the top of their conference. The winner of this game will be well within the top 5 and would be flying high entering conference play. Both teams entered the season with aspirations of winning a National Championship and this game could go a long way towards accomplishing that. As much as this game benefits the winner, there will still be plenty to play for as far as the loser is concerned. They will get a reality check and know what they need to work on internally before the beginning of conference play while still having a chance to make the playoffs.
