Under typical scenarios, Week 1 of the 2020 season wouldve featured simply about every group in the 130-member Bowl Subdivision. Instead, the first full Saturday of the season had just 6 games, just half of which included challengers from the FBS. (The remaining 3 pitted FBS versus teams from the Championship Subdivision.).
Players stood along a larger stretch of the sideline, thanks to an NCAA rule modification that permitted teams to stand from one 15-yard line to the other. Armys effectiveness on offense against Middle Tennessee could be an indication of whats to come on Monday night, when Navy hosts Brigham Young in one of the years top non-conference video games.
In the 4th quarter of Saturday afternoons 42-0 win versus Middle Tennessee State, Army ended up a 19-play, 99-yard touchdown drive that took 12 minutes, 26 seconds. In all, the Black Knights tried two passes and ran the ball 64 times, with seven players rushing for someplace in between 28 and 91 backyards.
College football is back. All thats various: no fans, quiet whistles, face masks (and facemasks) and less games, period.
Under typical circumstances, Week 1 of the 2020 season wouldve featured practically every group in the 130-member Bowl Subdivision. Rather, the first complete Saturday of the season had simply six video games, only half of that included opponents from the FBS. (The staying three pitted FBS against groups from the Championship Subdivision.).
TENNESSEE: Scrimmage canceled with 44 players unavailable to practice.
HERBSTREIT: ESPN expert breaks down during message on racial oppression.
Of the groups in action, only one, Memphis, received votes in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll.
As a gauge of how the season will play out, Saturdays slate supplied the first real look at football in the middle of a pandemic however will not help settle arguments over which groups will reach the College Football Playoff. Here are 5 things we gained from Week 1:.
The games are a various sort of spectacle.
The stands arent completely empty: Memphis had about 4,500 fans in presence on Saturday night, while earlier video games at Marshall and Army featured likewise capped crowds– Armys attendance consisted totally of about 4,300 cadets expanded through Michie Stadium.
Still, the background stood in contrast to the pomp of a typical college football Saturday. Players stood along a bigger stretch of the sideline, thanks to an NCAA rule change that allowed groups to stand from one 15-yard line to the other.
Even the whistles are different, changed due to concerns that your basic refereeing whistle would spray droplets. Rather, referees used electronic whistles connected to their waists, which proved challenging to hear even during video games with limited crowd sound.
Sadly, the inability to hear the blast of a referees whistle isnt just an annoyance– its also a potential safety concern, as some gamers may hear the stop and whistle while others continue as if the play hasnt been blown dead. Its something to view throughout a bigger list of video games next weekend.
Memphis wins in Saturdays most significant game.
Arkansas State is most likely going to end up again as one of the very best teams in the Sun Belt, which makes the Red Wolves a good barometer to measure Memphis as a contender for a New Years Six bowl.
Led by quarterback Brady White, who tossed four goals, the Tigers beat Arkansas State 37-24 in the launching of coach Ryan Silverfield, the former offensive line assistant who changed brand-new Florida State coach Mike Norvell.
Memphis joins UCF and Cincinnati atop the American Athletic Conference, with the conference champion the heavy favorite to reach a January bowl.
Takeaways from SMU beating Texas State.
For SMU, last Septembers 47-17 win versus Texas State was among 8 in a row to start the year and among 10 general in an advancement season under coach Sonny Dykes. Anxiety-inducing in comparison, Saturdays 31-24 road win against the Bobcats may trigger early alarms about the Mustangs chances of approaching last years success.
Texas State is certainly much better. The Bobcats seem to have actually discovered a running game after ranking at the bottom of the Sun Belt and near the cellar of the FBS last season, gaining 189 backyards on 38 carries after just as soon as topping 155 lawns in a video game in 2019.
Like the majority of groups, as well translucent much of September, SMUs timing and basic execution experienced the inability to perform a normal offseason. Still, quarterback Shane Buechele completed 26 of 36 attempts for 367 lawns and a touchdown, showing why he might be the leading returning starter in the American.
Tough to get ready for Army (and perhaps Navy).
Protective coordinators groan at the thought of quickly getting ready for video games against the triple-option offense utilized by Army and Navy. Usually, teams would much rather face among the service academies in the opener, since that would give the defense numerous weeks to gradually get a sense of the offensive scheme.
The flow of this offseason had most groups playing catch-up all August. That Army has actually run a comparable system for several years might benefit the Black Knights all season.
Armys effectiveness on offense versus Middle Tennessee might be an indication of whats to come on Monday night, when Navy hosts Brigham Young in one of the years leading non-conference video games. BYUs next challenger after the Midshipmen? That would be Army, on Sept. 19.
An early preview of Conference USA.
With four Conference USA teams in action– Middle Tennessee, Marshall, North Texas and UTEP– Saturday offered a deeper sneak peek of the Group of Five conference. (The conference preferred, UAB, won 45-35 versus Central Arkansas on Thursday night.).
Of this group, UTEP has actually been pegged as one of the weaker groups in the FBS, while North Texas wants to improve on in 2015s four-win finish while changing among the most respected passers in school history in Mason Fine. In matches versus the FCS, North Texas beat Houston Baptist 57-31 and UTEP topped Sam Houston State 24-14.
Marshall looked the part of an East division contender with its 59-0 win against Eastern Kentucky. Freshman quarterback Grant Wells set a new program record for passing lawns (307) and tied the program record for touchdowns (4) tossed by a quarterback in his launching start.
Follow Paul Myerberg on Twitter @PaulMyerberg.
