With the season underway, I would to welcome you to the first college football recap for week 1. The first full slate of college football graced fans with numerous highlights, stars, and memorable moments that they will be talking about all season long. I have been making predictions on each game during the first two weeks of the season and am off to a hot start currently sitting at 84-12, with a record of 79-9 during the first week. Unfortunately for me, I cannot get every pick right, as seen when looking at my Georgia Tech and Washington State picks. However, I was pleased with the Ole Miss 3 point victory over Louisville. After a great week of picks and a better week of football, it’s time to look back at the action from the chaotic start to the season.
The Most Impressive
LSU
The Tigers looked truly dominant in their first game of the season. They were able to assert themselves early and never looked back as they were up 31-3 at halftime and won 51-10. There were questions heading into this game about the focus of LSU as they have been dealing with off-the-field issues. However, behind star quarterback Sam Leavitt and the ferocious defense, LSU remained focused, resulting in the Tigers establishing themselves as one of the most impressive teams coming out of the gate. If the offense continues to put up big numbers and the defense causes chaos, I would not be shocked if they outperform expectations in Lane Kiffin’s first year in Baton Rouge.
UCLA
Bob Chesney gets his first win as the UCLA head coach after the Bruins beat Cal 45-24. After struggling much of the season last year, the Bruins seem to have improved on both sides of the ball. They were able to run all over the Golden Bears’ defense as UCLA ran for over 250 yards and scored 6 times. Defensively, the Bruins were able to force Cal’s quarterback to throw 2 interceptions that helped seal their victory. Although Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele suffered an ankle injury during the game and appeared to struggle as the game went on, UCLA should be proud of the imposing and tough-nosed football demonstrated on Saturday night.
Ole Miss
The Rebels were able to come away with a hard-fought win over a ranked opponent in Louisville. Ole Miss showcased an explosive offense that was humming all night. The running game was effective in complementing their star quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss. He passed for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns while finding potential breakout star Deuce Alexander for over 150 yards and 2 scores. Though the coaching staff will want to see fewer points on the board, they have to be happy with the pressure they put on Louisville as they forced three sacks. If Ole Miss can gain confidence in their ability to win close games, it could greatly benefit them later in the season.
The Most Disappointing
Rutgers
Rutgers had arguably the most embarrassing loss of the season, and Week 1 just finished. They were upset by the UMass Minutemen, a team that had not won a game in over 600 days. Rutgers was a large betting favorite at 29.5 points, and the Scarlet Knights played at home. They had turnover issues and struggled to move the ball on the ground. Add these problems to a defense that was getting torched early, and the Scarlet Knights were bound for a tough night. It felt like there were some pieces to build around, but after such a poor performance and an injury to their quarterback, it seems like more questions are creeping in about this season.
Michigan
Let me start with the obvious: the Wolverines should be 0-1, with a loss to Western Michigan. This performance was unbecoming of the Wolverines and the identity they are trying to build. With a new coach, a highly touted quarterback and weapons on both sides of the ball, Michigan should have beaten Western Michigan badly. Unfortunately, their strong defensive performance goes under the radar because of how poorly the Wolverines performed offensively. Michigan ultimately won on a Hail Mary thrown by Bryce Underwood after a controversial call that gifted the Wolverines one extra second. How they bounce back against Oklahoma will tell fans what Michigan is made of.
Oklahoma State
The Cowboys had a disastrous start to the Eric Morris era. The highly regarded transfers that followed Eric Morris struggled to make an impact as Tulsa forced four turnovers and held Oklahoma State to 10 points. Drew Mestemaker struggled in his Cowboy debut as he threw one touchdown pass and two interceptions. Losing by two scores to a team that people did not view highly coming into the season can derail a hype train immediately. Oklahoma State was a team that some had high hopes for, while others viewed them as overrated. If Eric Morris and his staff cannot find the success they had at North Texas, it could get ugly quick in the tough Big 12 Conference.
Best Games of The Week
SMU at Florida State
A rare Monday game during the college season was more interesting than expected. SMU was heavily favored against the Seminoles, however this one ended with game winning field goal late by the Mustangs. The Seminoles offense could not figure it out in the passing game yet demonstrated a tough and effective running game. Florida State did an excellent job defensively forcing 2 interceptions against one of the best quarterbacks in their conference. Kevin Jennings was effective through the air but was lucky that his turnovers did not come back and cost his team this game. Florida State needs more consistent production from their quarterback if they want to win; while SMU needs other weapons to help take the load off Kevin Jennings for future success.
Boise State at Oregon
A thrilling comeback victory by a highly ranked team to avoid an upset; talk about an emotional roller coaster for fans. The Ducks were down at halftime 17-14, leaving fans feeling anxious about what could be. Could Boise State have a scheme that works efficiently against the Ducks? Is Oregon overrated? I believe the former to be true, while the latter remains to be seen. The Ducks’ offense was as explosive as advertised as their potential Heisman candidate Dante Moore willed them to victory. With 378 yards and 3 touchdowns, Moore was showing the ability that makes him such a tantalizing prospect for the NFL. I expected Boise State to have a productive game on the ground; however, their quarterback picked up the load and kept the upset threat going most of the game. Ultimately, Oregon connected on a touchdown pass with 7:51 remaining in the 4th quarter to grab a victory 34-27.
Louisville at Ole Miss
In a ranked match up in Nashville, fans were treated to a high-scoring affair that came down to the final seconds. The Louisville quarterback, Lincoln Kienholz, did everything he could to help his team secure a victory. Though the Cardinals did not get the outcome they wanted, their quarterback showed out in his debut, putting up over 350 total yards and late-game heroics that helped them come close to stealing a win. Both teams created explosive plays as they each had multiple long and exciting touchdowns. Ole Miss made a field goal from 48 yards to give the Rebels a 3-point victory against the Cardinals. This one will benefit both teams down the road, especially over the next couple of weeks.
Watch Out For
Week 2 Game Predictions will be released Thursday morning, before the first game of the week kicks off.
