Some quick thoughts on the games of the first weekend of the college football season
Dominant Wins
Texas A&M was stunning in the 52-28 demolition of South Carolina; the Gamecocks coming off an 11-2 season. The Aggies offense was unstoppable and QB Kenny Hill looked like a polished veteran, throwing for over 500 yards and no INTs. A&M easily had the most impressive performance of the weekend.
Georgia was tied with Clemson at half by the same score as last year; the final results were very different as the Dawgs unleashed Todd Gurley – 198 yards rushing in addition to the 100 yard kickoff return for a TD leading to a 45-21 win.
Survivors
UCLA scored 3 defensive TDs and needed them all to escape Charlottesville with a 28-20 win over Virginia, 2-20 in 2013. Bruins o-line really struggled although the noon Eastern Time games are always difficult for West Coast teams.
Alabama had their hands full with West Virginia, 4-8 last year. Mountaineer QB Clint Tricket threw for over 350 yards but numerous drops by his WR’s at key times cost WVU a chance at the big upset.
I’ll take it
Penn State, FSU and LSU all won close games over teams that had great records last year. Penn State got a last second field goal to edge Central Florida (12-1 in 2013) in Dublin, Ireland. Back at the ranch (Jerry’s) in Dalas, OK State (10-3 last season0 got several big plays running and passing from QB JT Walsh, but FSU got one more from Jameis Winston and Rashad Green to hold off the upset minded Pokes 37-31. And just across the state of Texas in Houston, LSU trailed Wisconsin (9-4 in 2013) 24-7 in the 3rd quarter, but big plays on both sides of the ball in the 4th gave the Tigers the 28-24 win.
This is no way to start a season
Houston opened their brand new on campus stadium by getting throttled by Texas-San Antonio 27-7. This is the Roadrunners first season as a full member of FBS after transitioning from FCS. UTSA can compete for a bowl appearance for the first time in school history.
Vanderbilt lost HC James Franklin and many of his recruits in the offseason, then opened this year with a 37-7 face plant at the hands of Temple in Nashville. The Owls were 2-10 in 2013 which included losses to Fordham and Idaho. Vandy finished 9-4 and ranked in the top 25 last season but that seems a distant memory.
Northwestern was looking forward to a season that maybe with better health could turn into something special in the Big 10s new West Division; this in spite of a bizarre offseason with the vote by the players to start a union. If they had actually been paid employees, they would have all been fired after losing at home to Cal. The Bears snapped a 10 game losing streak after finishing 1-11 in 2013, 0-11 against FBS teams.