And now, 18 ideas on an early September Saturday that dared AP voters to simply blow up their ballots and begin over.
1. Two weeks in, I really feel assured that Georgia, Ohio State and Texas are the right high three groups. After that, I’d be guessing simply the identical as you. Quite a lot of extremely ranked groups had shut calls in opposition to inferior opponents. And one top-five crew flat-out misplaced at residence to NIU as a 28-point favourite.
2. This was alleged to be the 12 months Marcus Freeman led Notre Dame again to nationwide title competition, to not one more Week 2 residence loss to a Group of 5 opponent. (2022 Marshall, meet 2024 NIU.) He already had a stacked, veteran protection earlier than touchdown famend offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock from LSU and switch quarterback Riley Leonard from Duke. However on Saturday, Leonard went simply 20 of 32 for 163 yards and two interceptions in opposition to a MAC opponent. NIU took benefit of that second choose to take a seat on the ball for 5 minutes earlier than hitting a last-minute discipline purpose to stun the Irish 16-14.
From Day 1, Freeman has been unofficially auditioning for the job he already landed, at age 35, after Brian Kelly bolted. After a tough 12 months 1, he was trending in the suitable path. However Saturday was an absolute confidence crusher that sapped all of the momentum from Notre Dame’s season-opening win at Texas A&M. If something, it introduced again questions way back assumed buried in regards to the state of Freeman’s program. Sure, Notre Dame can nonetheless attain the 12-team Playoff, however provided that Saturday’s sport proves to be a whole fluke.
GO DEEPER
Sampson: Notre Dame has been right here earlier than underneath Marcus Freeman. That is the issue
3. A crew like NIU won’t ever expertise a nationwide title however profitable at Notre Dame Stadium as an enormous underdog certainly feels as candy. The Huskies coach, Thomas Hammock, himself a former NIU star operating again, was sobbing throughout his NBC postgame interview. This system has had its moments during the last 20 years, most notably the Jordan Lynch period circa 2012-13, however this was by far its largest win. I’d not have recommended earlier than the season that the MAC might produce the G5’s CFP rep, however I can’t think about one other G5 crew will earn a extra vital nonconference win.
“THEY BELIEVED.”
Northern Illinois HC Thomas Hammock spoke from the guts after an unbelievable upset over Notre Dame. @NIU_Football pic.twitter.com/pFrS5ok5U7
— NBC Sports activities (@NBCSports) September 7, 2024
4. No. 10 Michigan got here out Saturday in opposition to No. 3 Texas sporting the identical uniforms and taking part in in the identical stadium because the 2023 nationwide champions — however that’s the place the resemblances ended. The Longhorns’ 31-12 rout on the Large Home confirmed probably the most dire issues in regards to the Wolverines’ depleted offense. Rather more beautiful was the benefit with which Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (24 of 36, 246 yards, three TDs, no INTs) shredded a Michigan protection that also boasts star energy.
The Horns managed the road of scrimmage, and Steve Sarkisian was his standard masterful self in scheming guys open, most notably tight finish Gunnar Helm (seven catches, 98 yards). It needs to be a pleasant confidence increase for Texas because it embarks on its first-ever SEC schedule.
5. New Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore, who took over when Jim Harbaugh left for the Chargers, succeeded in conserving the defending champs’ roster collectively, however he didn’t do a lot to improve it both. I used to be stunned final spring when he didn’t usher in a switch quarterback to compete for the beginning job. Two video games in, I’m bewildered by it. Davis Warren looks as if a serviceable backup who’s been thrust into the beginning job, which doesn’t converse properly for the man he beat out, Alex Orji. We’ll see if Moore provides Orji extra reps subsequent week in opposition to Arkansas State.
6. Nebraska’s 28-10 rout of previous rival Colorado was precisely the sort of get together long-suffering Huskers followers have been thirsting for. 5-star freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola regarded the half (23 of 30, 185 yards, 1 TD, no INTs), and Matt Rhule’s second crew regarded quicker on offense and fiercer on protection. For Deion and Shedeur Sanders, however, it was a depressingly acquainted plot. Colorado gave up six sacks and ran for simply 16 yards, leaving Shedeur Sanders (23 of 38, 244 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) and Travis Hunter (10 catches, 110 yards) to play their very own sport of catch after the end result was lengthy determined.
The Buffs protection has improved from 2023, however there stays a substantial hole between their offensive ability expertise and their offensive line. Perhaps AFLAC may help shut it.
GO DEEPER
Stewart Mandel’s 12-team Playoff projections after Week 2
7. The very best participant within the nation up to now has been Boise State operating again Ashton Jeanty, who adopted up a 267-yard, six-touchdown clinic at Georgia Southern by operating for an additional 192 yards and three TDs in opposition to No. 7 Oregon. It wasn’t fairly sufficient to high the Geese, who received 37-34 on a last-second discipline purpose, thanks largely to an 85-yard Tez Johnson punt-return landing and 100-yard Noah Whittington kick-return TD.
With out these, Oregon might need been in bother, as its usually explosive offense shouldn’t be clicking. Following key losses on the within of their offensive line, the Geese by means of two video games have already allowed seven sacks. That’s two greater than they gave up in both the 2022 or 2023 seasons.
8. On the night time Alabama devoted Nick Saban Area at Bryant-Denny Stadium, the Tide’s offense gave a efficiency that may have pissed off their former coach to no finish. Fourth-ranked Alabama scored on simply two of its first 11 possessions in opposition to pesky USF and led simply 21-16 with 6:45 left earlier than exploding for back-to-back-to-back lengthy touchdowns to win with a deceiving ultimate rating of 42-16. Kalen DeBoer’s crew shouldn’t be missing for weapons, resembling operating again Jam Miller (15 carries, 140 yards) and freshman receiver Ryan Williams (4 catches, 68 yards), however on this night time, the Tide’s offensive line introduced again troubling recollections of its rocky 2023 marketing campaign.
9. Saturday night time’s Tennessee-NC State sport in Charlotte was shaping as much as be Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s coming-out get together, however his protection upstaged him. The No. 14 Vols shut down Wolfpack quarterback Grayson McCall, the previous Coastal Carolina standout, and held No. 24 NC State to simply 143 whole yards in a 51-10 blowout. We knew Tennessee had an elite pass-rusher in James Pearce, however nostril sort out Omari Thomas and the remainder of the Vols’ D-line dominated the Wolfpack. Iamaleava (16 of 23, 211 yards) had his moments as properly, however he additionally threw a choose six that grew to become NC State’s solely landing.
10. Right here’s one I didn’t see coming: South Carolina, every week faraway from eking out a 23-19 residence win in opposition to Previous Dominion, occurring the highway and suffocating Kentucky in a 31-6 beatdown. The Gamecocks D, led by five-star freshman cross rusher Dylan Stewart, notched 5 sacks and a choose six of Wildcats quarterback Brock Vandagriff whereas permitting simply 188 whole yards.
Along with beginning 1-0 in SEC play, Shane Beamer’s crew, 5-7 final season, messed issues up for ESPN’s GameDay. The present was anticipated to be in Lexington subsequent weekend for Georgia at Kentucky. Now: LSU at South Carolina.
11. Former star quarterback Brock Purdy led Iowa State’s ascent underneath Matt Campbell a couple of years in the past. Enter Rocco Becht, a sophomore in his second 12 months because the starter. Down 19-7 in opposition to rival Iowa’s notoriously salty protection, Becht hit Jaylin Noel for a 75-yard landing, then within the ultimate minute, related with Noel once more for a 30-yard achieve to arrange Kyle Konrady’s game-winning 54-yard discipline purpose. With the 20-19 victory, Campbell has overwhelmed Kirk Ferentz two of the previous three years after shedding his first 5 Cy-Hawk video games.
#IowaState reels #Iowa again in after Rocco Becht hits Jaylin Noel for a 75-yard TD cross. The battle for the #CYHawk trophy is shut. pic.twitter.com/OrgAiUwoOm
— School Soccer Buzz (@CFBBUZ) September 7, 2024
12. The Large 12 dodged a pair of upsets within the early window Saturday when No. 16 Oklahoma State, down 21-7 at one level, held off Arkansas 39-31 in double additional time, and No. 17 Kansas State, down 20-10 at halftime, survived 34-27 at Tulane.
The losers of these video games will probably be kicking themselves for a while, although. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s Razorbacks racked up 648 yards however misplaced three turnovers and obtained stopped twice on fourth down. In the meantime, Tulane redshirt freshman quarterback Darian Mensah placed on a present, with 4 30-plus-yard completions, and it appeared he’d thrown a tying TD with 17 seconds left. However officers negated it on a non-existent offensive cross interference name. Mensah then threw a dagger interception.
This was an offensive cross interference on Tulane.
The Wave obtained robbed pic.twitter.com/ApTZ5Wb1ws
— Boot Krewe Media (@BootKreweMedia) September 7, 2024
Maybe one or each high quality wins will find yourself boosting the Large 12’s at-large probabilities.
13. Clemson heard all our mockery after final week’s Georgia sport and took it out on revered G5 crew Appalachian State. Behind a near-perfect efficiency from quarterback Cade Klubnik (24 of 26, 378 yards, 5 TDs, no INTs), the Tigers scored 35 factors within the first quarter and 56 earlier than halftime in a 66-20 blowout. It served as a pleasant reminder that regardless of shedding its opener 34-3, Clemson might properly flip round and win the ACC. And likewise that Georgia stays a holy terror.
14. The offensive wizardry Hugh Freeze confirmed at Ole Miss and Liberty has but to make an look at Auburn. Within the second sport of Freeze’s second season, visiting Cal smothered the Tigers passing sport, selecting off Payton Thorne 4 occasions and holding Auburn to 286 whole yards in a 21-14 win. Auburn followers will certainly name for the top of Thorne, who has by no means been in a position to replicate his nice 2021 season at Michigan State, however it’s exhausting to say how a lot of the issue is him and the way a lot is the Tigers woeful offensive line.
15. A 12 months in the past on this similar weekend, Illinois went to Kansas and fell behind 34-7, shedding 34-23. So it was an enormous deal for Bret Bielema’s crew to not solely win Saturday’s rematch, 23-17, but in addition to stifle the Nineteenth-ranked Jayhawks veteran offense. Kansas’ star quarterback Jalon Daniels completed simply 18 of 32 for 141 yards and threw three picks in opposition to the Illini’s protection. Maybe this implies Illinois is poised for an additional season like 2022 when it received eight video games and gave Michigan matches. Or maybe KU shouldn’t be but prepared for preseason Prime 25s.
16. Final week, Syracuse coach Fran Brown joked that he ought to ship a bottle of champagne to Ohio State’s Ryan Day for letting quarterback Kyle McCord turn into a free agent. McCord regarded even higher in his ACC debut, going 32 of 46 for 381 yards, 4 touchdowns and no picks in a 31-28 residence win over Georgia Tech. Brown, previously Georgia’s defensive backs coach, was pretty unknown earlier than getting the job final winter however earned on the spot credibility from the fan base when Syracuse grew to become the shock touchdown spot for the Buckeyes’ 2023 starter. It seems to be just like the pair will probably be an element of their new convention this fall.
17. The realignment gods tried to kick Washington State and Oregon State to the curb, however they’re not exiting quietly. The Cougars throttled Large 12 foe Texas Tech 37-16 in an AfterDark sport on Fox, with quarterback John Mateer accountable for 197 of his crew’s 301 yards on the bottom. Subsequent week brings a mid-September Apple Cup in opposition to Washington in Seattle. In the meantime, the Beavers received 21-0 at San Diego State prematurely of an enormous grudge match at residence subsequent week in opposition to the hated Geese. That one can be on Fox.
The 2 applications’ futures stay unsure. For now, they’ve opted in opposition to persevering with their Mountain West scheduling partnership subsequent season, presumably to schedule extra P4 opponents. For one week at the least, it should really feel like previous occasions on these campuses.
18. Lastly, when UAB savior coach Invoice Clark needed to step down for well being causes earlier than the 2022 season, offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent stepped in as interim head coach and went 7-6. That wasn’t adequate for UAB, which made a big-splash rent with Trent Dilfer, regardless of his by no means having coached faculty soccer.
Vincent is now the top coach at Louisiana-Monroe, which on Saturday whooped Dilfer’s Blazers 32-6. Dilfer, the previous NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst, has three FBS wins in his first 14 video games at UAB.
As all the time, the splashiest rent is never the most effective rent.
(Photograph of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers celebrating after a landing: Gregory Shamus / Getty Photos)
