Official College Football Week 2 Thread

[JonInMiddleGA]

Put a fork in Nebraska.

[Matthean]

Just a brutal weekend for the Big Ten all round.

[sterlingice]

Oh, Mizzou

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

Turning brutal for Mizzou

[Matthean]

I do find it interesting that all three games between the Big Ten and Pac 12 were in Pac 12 country.

[cartman]

Both A&M and Mizzou just folded in the 2nd half.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by cartman

Both A&M and Mizzou just folded in the 2nd half.

Kind of like their tenure in the Big 12.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by cartman

Now for sure we'll never see MJ4H in these parts again.

I'm sure once they get good again with an awesome coach.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Oh, Mizzou

SI

Yep, just like that the game got out of hand. Oh well, such is life.

[MrBug708]

Woooo...Hundley looks better than anyone in the Pac not named Matt Barkley and maybe Mariota

[cartman]

Can't wait to see Sheldon Richardson's tweets after this game.

[tarcone]

B1G is not very good. And Iowa is horrible. We will be very liucky to beat UNI next week.

I rarely see a PAC12(10) team play at a B1G stadium. Iowa is always going west.
I wonder why that is.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

Yep, just like that the game got out of hand. Oh well, such is life.

Mizzou is a scary team. I haven't been able to breathe until 10 minutes ago.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Mizzou is a scary team. I haven't been able to breathe until 10 minutes ago.

Gary Pinkel is great at recruiting NFL-caliber playmakers, especially on offense. However, the teams always seem a little light in the depth department on defense and don't have elite offensive linemen.

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

Mizzou is a scary team. I haven't been able to breathe until 10 minutes ago.

Mizzou shouldn't have scared you nearly as much as your own roster/sideline.

Georgia's biggest problem with a game like that one are internal, not external.

[Matthean]

Arizona up 23-14 on Ok. State.

[RainMaker]

But OK State looked so good against Savannah State.

[Izulde]

UNLV only up 14-7 on Northern Arizona at the start of the 4th quarter. You know, the same NAU squad that got beat 63-6 last week?

[Atocep]

Rumor is that Tyler Wilson broke his collar bone and is out about 4 weeks.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Rumor is that Tyler Wilson broke his collar bone and is out about 4 weeks.

Well, that's for 'Bama, Rutgers, TA&M, and Auburn. Kentucky would be week 5 with a bye week, Ole Miss, and Tulsa after that. It would be nice if the TA&M game was later, but nothing can be done about 'Bama. I didn't think they were going to win anyway, but it would have been nice for the game to have a chance of being entertaining. This should be another easy win for 'Bama.

[JonInMiddleGA]

I'd like to have seen Missouri (or anybody else) beat them mangy Dawgs by 50 ... but they earned the right to do this afaic.

[MrBug708]

Had UCLA not taken their last two kneel downs, they would have had the record for.most yards against Nebraska

[Izulde]

Fucking hell... 17-14 loss to flipping Northern Arizona. My only consolation for this shitty season is hope that Hauck will get his ass canned at the end of the year. In his third year and the team still sucks donkey dick.

[Chief Rum]

Okay, interesting night in the Pac 12. I suppose in the end, it all looks pretty good.

Everyone pretty much acknowledges the quality of USC and Oregon. Then UCLA, Oregon State and Arizona score huge wins over B1G teams. ASU as of this post is leading Okie State. Stanford smoked Duke (as expected).

Then you have Utah falling to Utah State, Colorado to FCS Sac State, Cal kinda allowing its game with an FCS team to remain too close, Washington State just edging out Eastern Washington, and LSU just demolishing UDub (as expected).

So, not sure whether this conference is actually good or not.

[Matthean]

A couple of those wins were where Nebraska was without their leading RB and Illinois was without their starting QB. I think it sounds like a lot of conferences. The upper part is decent and the bottom half sucks. At least in the battle of academic schools Northwestern beat Vandy.

[MrBug708]

UCLA started four offensive lineman who didn't play a snap last year. Two RS, one was in high school, and the four was on a mission trip

[Solecismic]

A lot has been made in recent years of mid-majors going undefeated and getting major bowl invitations. Many wrote off this happening this year when Michigan State beat Boise State last week.

I thought Central Florida could do it if the Knights could pull something off in Columbus. But Ohio State pulled away in the second half.

All that's really left is Ohio. A "signature" win over Penn State, whatever Penn State is this year. And a remaining schedule that wouldn't threaten a mediocre major school. If they can win at Miami (Ohio) on 10/27, I think the Bobcats are likely to be 12-0 going into the MAC championship.

What would you do with a 13-0 MAC school with a schedule strength of 123 out of 124 (UTSA plays four I-AA schools)?

[Poli]

Had a blast the past two nights in Knoxvile.

Rain hit about 3 hours before the game and stopped about 5 minutes into the game. Sun came out for a long period in the third quarter I believe. Great atmosphere for my brother's first game outside of that.

51-13 win over hapless Georgia State. It could have been worse but UT lost two turnovers and missed both an extra point and a field goal.

My newborn hasn't had much Tennessee gear since he's been born. I have not wanted to buy baby clothes online. He can consider himself hooked up now!

I am glad I was able to take my brother this year. A lowsy drunk and bad father years ago, he's made a remarkable change to his life since meeting his wife. He is a better person now than I have ever known him to be. His health and finances are not in great shape, though, so I am thrilled to "help a brother out".

I was glad to 'sponsor' him for this trip and last week's Kansas game. I believe he has spent 8 dollars all together. I'm also paying for his lawyer in his child custody case with his ex-girlfriend.

[Poli]

Didn't see Kansas play as a result. Bourbon didn't get a carry but had a reception. Tough way to lose a game as well. After watching the South Dakota game last week, I am surprised KU was in a position to win this game.

Hope it's available on the espn3 when I get home.

[Poli]

Shortly after we left Neyland I started getting texts from Mizzou fans asking me what the big deal about SEC football was about. I got to the hotel with about 3 minutes left in the first half. More texts came in early in the third quarter and then died out completely.

I wanted to send them the pic JIMGA posted and the other dry erase one that said "welcome to the SEC" but I didn't. I didn't want to pile on.

[Poli]

Happy for Arkansas and Vanderbilt losses as well. Not normally one to hate on SEC schools during non conference games but both teams have won a special place in my heart.

[Simbo Klice]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

A lot has been made in recent years of mid-majors going undefeated and getting major bowl invitations. Many wrote off this happening this year when Michigan State beat Boise State last week.

I thought Central Florida could do it if the Knights could pull something off in Columbus. But Ohio State pulled away in the second half.

All that's really left is Ohio. A "signature" win over Penn State, whatever Penn State is this year. And a remaining schedule that wouldn't threaten a mediocre major school. If they can win at Miami (Ohio) on 10/27, I think the Bobcats are likely to be 12-0 going into the MAC championship.

What would you do with a 13-0 MAC school with a schedule strength of 123 out of 124 (UTSA plays four I-AA schools)?

I think it depends on if they win impressively all the way through. If you do, you reward them (and by proxy, the MAC) with the chance to pull down a lot of cash getting worked in a BCS bowl. It'll also depend on the quality of the other at-large teams, if it's between Ohio and a 3 loss Big 12 or Big 10 team then I think you reward the undefeated team even if the other team is obviously better.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by cartman

Both A&M and Mizzou just folded in the 2nd half.

Add Arkansas to that. This really hurts.

[RainMaker]

Northwestern is 2-0. Liking what I've seen so far. Not going to compete for the Big 10 or anything, but should be competitive. Boston College is a winnable game next week and South Dakota shouldn't be a problem. Decent shot they enter Big 10 play at 4-0.

Edit: I did graduate studies at Northwestern but I never felt like they were my team in the same way that people who get their Bachelors at a school. But recently I've been changing on them. Even went to a couple basketball games last year.

[bronconick]

Ball State's signature regular season win in Hoke's last season there (2008) was over Indiana. They rose to 12th at 12-0 in the BCS before losing to Buffalo in the MACCG. If Ohio matches that and wins the conference title game, they'd be in. It's top non-BCS champion in the top 12, or in the top 16 if a BCS conference champion is ranked behind them. That second part is quite possible, even probable if Louisville doesn't win the Big East.

Boise's been boned the last two years by not winning their conference.

[RainMaker]

I don't think Ohio is going to run the table. If they beat Marshall, they shouldn't be tested till the Miami of Ohio game which won't be easy. Bowling Green isn't bad either. But they do avoid NIU and Toledo in the regular season, although I'd give a decent shot for either of them to clip Ohio in the Conference Title game.

[Scarecrow]

The Big XII deserters (Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, Texas A&M) went 0-4 this week.

As my daddy always said, "The grass is greener on the oher side because they got more shit."

[Ksyrup]

That OK St score scares the crap out of me. FSU plays a decent WF team that usually gives us trouble. Playing Savannah State - I'm telling you, guys weren't having to try out there at all. Probably same thing happened with OK St. Now, we've actually got a D so I'm not THAT worried about it, but when you see no talent/speed for 2 games and then jump into real games, you never know.

Would have been interesting to see WVU against FSU's D this weekend. Oh well.

[RainMaker]

So FSU has played Savannah State and Murray State. Carry on that football tradition Seminoles!

[bronconick]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

So FSU has played Savannah State and Murray State. Carry on that football tradition Seminoles!

Go yell at Missouri for not having the decency to wait one year to move leagues.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

So FSU has played Savannah State and Murray State. Carry on that football tradition Seminoles!

I'll be the first to beat up on FSU, but at least they have South Florida and Florida on their schedule, two legit BCS schools in the noncon. That's more than most of the top 10 can say.

SI

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I'll be the first to beat up on FSU, but at least they have South Florida and Florida on their schedule, two legit BCS schools in the noncon. That's more than most of the top 10 can say.

SI

and as someone said earlier, this game was supposed to be WVU

[Vegas Vic]

Originally Posted by tarcone

I rarely see a PAC12(10) team play at a B1G stadium.

Most of these games are home-and-home series. Oregon State played at Wisconsin in 2011. UCLA plays at Nebraska on 9/14/2013.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by Simbo Klice

I think it depends on if they win impressively all the way through. If you do, you reward them (and by proxy, the MAC) with the chance to pull down a lot of cash getting worked in a BCS bowl. It'll also depend on the quality of the other at-large teams, if it's between Ohio and a 3 loss Big 12 or Big 10 team then I think you reward the undefeated team even if the other team is obviously better.

That's why I won't be happy with the system until there's at least a 16-team playoff, preferably 24 or 32. Then it's big enough to give a spot to a school that hasn't been tested, but at least won all its games.

College football schedules vary so much. The NFL takes great pains to construct a fair system where each division, at least, is playing a near-identical schedule. That's not practical in college football.

It used to be that all that mattered in the Big Ten was winning the Big Ten championship and going to the Rose Bowl. Growing up, "Rose Bowl" was the reward for a great season. Many people would bring roses to games late in the season, if the Big Ten could be clinched with a victory. No one worried about "National Champions" - that sort of thing was left to the sportswriters, who were mostly cheering sections for regional interests anyway. That's why you have more claimed national championships than there are years.

Now that we've got this half-way system and the Rose Bowl isn't even necessarily for the Big Ten champion, it's hard to figure out what we want. If we can't have a big basketball-size tournament at the end, I'd rather see us playing a round-robin with the 12 conference teams and the 12th game would be a Notre Dame to start the season. I don't want to worry about bowl placement determinant on whether Ohio can run the table against 12 teams that would all be easier opponents than pretty much anyone we'll play this season.

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by Lathum

and as someone said earlier, this game was supposed to be WVU

True. If that's WVU in the schedule, then Florida State would be playing as tough a schedule as any ACC team, maybe even the toughest.

I know it's hard to scramble and get a good opponent, but I think ADs need to know the FCS a little better. Surely, the money would have attracted a top-half FCS school. My problem is scheduling a bottom-five FCS school - it was less challenging than a scrimmage and there was serious risk of injury to the Savannah kids. Most fans just see FCS and assume the opponent is not competitive. That's not true. Every year, there are at least 10-20 FCS schools that could win half their games in a mid-major conference.

I felt the same way when Michigan scheduled Delaware State a few years back. The fans here figured it was the same as scheduling Delaware, probably didn't even know there was a Delaware State and assumed it was the same school. But Delaware State was a similarly bottom-tier FCS school and the game wasn't just a mismatch, it was uncomfortable.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Surely, the money would have attracted a top-half FCS school.

How many of them had an opening at the time this game was scheduled?

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

It used to be that all that mattered in the Big Ten was winning the Big Ten championship and going to the Rose Bowl. Growing up, "Rose Bowl" was the reward for a great season. Many people would bring roses to games late in the season, if the Big Ten could be clinched with a victory. No one worried about "National Champions" - that sort of thing was left to the sportswriters, who were mostly cheering sections for regional interests anyway. That's why you have more claimed national championships than there are years.

And there was nothing wrong with that but they broke it anyway.

[Thomkal]

Well guess I might have to become a believer in Coastal Carolina's Financial CEO turned college football head coach Joe Moglia. Had to go on the road after a good opening win at home to play Furman. Furman had won 12 straight home openers and 22 straight non-conference home game wins coming into this one.

Coastal led comfortably after 3 quarters, but behind a backup QB for Furman who had never played in a college game before, the Paladins scored 19 points to take the lead. Coastal hit a clutch 45 yard FG with no time on the clock to send it into OT. Three Overtimes later Coastal escaped with a 49-47 win.

Thought this could have been a pretty bad loss for Coastal going into the game, and nearly was a loss, but to pull out the win was big and given the rest of their schedule, could be the start of a great season.

[Easy Mac]

Was at the game until midway through the third, when another downpour was on the way. I wast about to make my 3 year old sit through a second monsoon.

Not to take anything away from Coastal, but a high school team could beat Furman. They were horrendous. The starting QB literally did not have the arm strength to hit a running back three yards from the line. Every single first down play was either a run up the middle or a 4 yard toss back on a waterlogged field. Never mind the DBs consistently playing off at least 10 yards every pass.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

How many of them had an opening at the time this game was scheduled?

Exactly. If anything, FSU has gone out of ita way to play fewer cupcakes than the typical team. We've scheduled BYU, Oklahoma, and Colorado in the past few years, not to mention USF and (what was supposed to be) WVU. We've got UF on our schedule every year, and until Miami joined the ACC, we had them as non-conference, too.

With the ACC going to 9 games next year and UF on the schedule, we'll probably stick with 2 cupcakes a year, but this year, having 2 cupcakes - one of which was scheduled less than 6 months in advance after a top 20 team pulled out on us - is hardly a sin that should be held against us.

I just don't like going from 2 cupcakes straight into conference play.