If youre looking for brilliant areas (and, yes, were being extremely favorable), Texas has actually emerged for 122 points in its first 2 games, and Sam Ehlinger has actually tossed 10 touchdown passes. The Longhorns 63-56 overtime escape Saturday versus Texas Tech after trailing 56-41 late in the 4th quarter raises all sorts of questions about a Texas defense that was absolutely shredded. The Longhorns are always going to have a shot as long as Ehlinger is at quarterback, and maybe this was just among those awful run-and-gun wins that are the standard in the Big 12. At least, thats what theyre hoping on the Forty Acres.
Up next: vs. TCU (Saturday, TBA).
Theres a lot to like about what Penn State returns on offense for the 2020 season. The Nittany Lions leading three running backs from a year ago are back, including budding superstar Journey Brown. Four of their five beginning offensive linemen are back in addition to redshirt junior quarterback Sean Clifford, who needed to be stired when he heard for sure that Pat Freiermuth planned to play this season. Freiermuth, who has 15 career touchdown catches, is among the premier tight ends in college football.
Up next: at Indiana (Oct. 24, TBA).
The Irish had 13 players last week put in seclusion and/or quarantine because of COVID-19 concerns and stopped briefly all football-related activities, leading to the post ponement of Saturdays Wake Forest game. On the field, the Irish revealed enough on both sides of the ball in their very first two games that they might be the only genuine danger to Clemson this season in the ACC.
Up next: vs. Florida State (Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC).
Pat Narduzzi has actually been around some exceptional defenses during his coaching profession, but his Pittsburgh defense this season looks sufficient to keep the Panthers in every game and perhaps even get them back to the ACC championship game for the 2nd time in the previous 3 years. Pitt won 23-20 Saturday over Louisville and held the Cardinals to 223 overall backyards, and sacked quarterback Malik Cunningham seven times. The Panthers still require to fortify some things on offense, however theyre one of those groups not called Clemson or Notre Dame to watch on in the ACC race.
Up next: vs. North Carolina State (Saturday, midday ET, ACC Network).
The Wildcats rebounded from their season-opening 35-21 loss to Arkansas State 2 weeks ago to stun the Sooners 38-35 Saturday on the roadway. Kansas State won regardless of being short-handed, too.
Up next: vs. Texas Tech (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1).
Theres no getting around how anemic Georgia was on offense Saturday in the first half of its season-opening 37-10 win over Arkansas, a group that now has lost 20 straight SEC games. The Dawgs did reveal some life in the second half with Stetson Bennett coming off the bench to toss 2 third-quarter goal passes. But even with a defense that must be elite and played to that level in the opener, Georgia will require to enhance substantially on offense and play much cleaner (12 penalties for 108 lawns) if its going to be a nationwide title contender this season.
Up next: vs. Auburn (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Joe Miltons size, skill set and arm strength have a lot of Michigan fans eager to see what hes capable of this season as he steps in as the Wolverines beginning quarterback. After opening on the road versus Minnesota, the Wolverines also go on the road 2 weeks later to play Indiana and likewise face Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State– all nationally ranked groups.
Up next: at Minnesota (Oct. 24, TBA).
Three games into the season, Miami is a runaway winner for the most better team in the nation, especially on offense. The combination of DEriq King at quarterback and Rhett Lashlee as offending organizer, both beginners to The U, has actually made a huge difference for the Hurricanes, who romped past Florida State on Saturday in your home in a 52-10 success. Miami led 38-3 at the half and didnt look anything like the group that had a hard time to put up points a year back.
Up next: at Clemson (Oct. 10, TBA).
Tua Tagovailoa is gone along with a set of receivers, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III, who were also first-round NFL draft picks back in April. Alabama looked as dynamic as ever offensively in its season-opening 38-19 win over Missouri. The Crimson Tide travelled to a 38-3 lead early in the 3rd quarter, and despite the fact that they didnt finish the game along with Nick Saban would have liked, theres a lot to like about Jaylen Waddle and Najee Harris, who combined for all 5 of Alabamas goals.
Up next: vs. Texas A&M (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS).
The graduate transfer quarterback from Stanford carved apart protecting national champ LSUs defense for an SEC-record 623 passing backyards and 5 touchdowns, and Mississippi State shook things up in the SECs Western Division with a 44-34 upset of LSU. And to fully process what took place Saturday in Tiger Stadium, the Bulldogs might have won even more convincingly had Costello not thrown two interceptions and lost two fumbles.
Up next: vs. Arkansas (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network Alternate).
Auburn, in Chad Morris debut calling offensive bets the Tigers, came alive when it required to in the 2nd half. And on defense, Kevin Steeles unit was its normal swarming self in a season opening 29-13 win Saturday over Kentucky. Auburns defense came up with 3 turnovers, one a first-half interception in the end zone after Kentucky had actually driven inside the 1. The Tigers also required a fumble while clinging to a 15-13 fourth-quarter lead that led to an Auburn touchdown. Auburn has actually held seven of its previous nine SEC opponents– dating to the start of the 2019 season– to 24 points or less.
Up next: at Georgia (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
AP Photo/Butch DillIts never ever an easy project going against Armys alternative offense, but Cincinnati got it done Saturday in all 3 stages of the video game in a 24-10 win. The Bearcats showcased their balance by holding Armys hurrying attack to 182 yards and not giving up any goals on defense, while likewise obstructing a punt on unique groups and getting a Desmond Ridder-to-Gerrid Doaks 60-yard touchdown pass to put the video game away.
Up next: vs. South Florida (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
The Pac-12 is still more than a month away from cranking up, but it looks like a two-team race in between Oregon and USC. Among the big benefits the Trojans have is a tested quarterback in Kedon Slovis, who burst onto the scene last season as a freshman and passed for 3,502 backyards and 30 touchdowns. Slovis 167.6 passing effectiveness ranking was the greatest in school history, which is stating something when you think about the long list of skilled quarterbacks USC has actually produced.
Up next: TBA.
Simply getting on the field was a win for the Hokies. Due to the fact that of COVID-19 problems at NC State, this video game was supposed to be played on Sept. 12 however was pushed back. And last week, Virginia Techs video game with Virginia was delayed. The Hokies played Saturday without 23 gamers– consisting of beginning quarterback Hendon Hooker– and still won quickly, beating the Wolfpack 45-24. Regardless of it being their first game, the Hokies played clean football and got two goal passes from third-string quarterback Quincy Patterson II, who came in for Braxton Burmeister after he left the game because of an injured hand.
Up next: at Duke (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ACC Network).
Altering addresses has ended up being the standard in college football, and transfers have played key roles the previous couple of years for the groups winning champions and making the College Football Playoff. Running back Trey Sermon might be that transfer this season for the Buckeyes after coming over from Oklahoma. J.K. Dobbins was a sensational talent, however Sermon and Master Teague III should match each other well in the Ohio State backfield, particularly with Teague ahead of schedule in his rehab from the Achilles injury he suffered in the spring.
Up next: vs. Nebraska (Oct. 24, TBA).
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY SportsThe Tigers were off this week after travelling to a pair of blowout success in their first two video games. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence looks as polished as ever, but the more youthful talent on this Clemson lineup has actually also been difficult to miss out on the first two weeks.
Up next: vs. Virginia (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ACC Network).
Scoring 35 points and still losing the video game isnt all that uncommon in the Big 12. However when youre leading by 21 points at home in the third quarter and still handle to lose, thats a problem. Plainly, Oklahoma hasnt resolved all of its issues on defense, as evidenced by its 38-35 collapse Saturday versus Kansas State. The Sooners are skilled and explosive enough on offense to work their way back into the Big 12 race, but this is a loss that could be a debilitating blow to their College Football Playoff possibilities.
Up next: at Iowa State (Saturday, TBA).
Jonathan Taylor was so great for so long at Wisconsin that it will practically be surreal viewing the Badgers play without No. 23 in the backfield. But running the football is seldom, if ever, an issue in Madison, and redshirt sophomore Nakia Watson aspires to show what he can do now that Taylor is gone. Redshirt senior Garrett Groshek will likewise play a key role, particularly on third down, and freshman Jalen Berger is talented enough that its going to be difficult to keep him off the field.
Up next: vs. Illinois (Oct. 24, TBA).
Yes, its way too early to be handicapping the Heisman Trophy race. However couple of quarterbacks have actually played better the first couple of weeks of the 2020 season than sophomore Dillon Gabriel. For the 2nd week in a row, he tossed for 4 touchdowns, as UCF stormed past East Carolina for a 51-28 win on Saturday. Gabriel has thrown for 825 lawns with only one interception in the Knights first two games, and has thrown touchdown passes to 5 various players.
Up next: vs. Tulsa (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
If it actually does mean more in the SEC, then more Mike Leach and more K.J. Costello this season could truly make things interesting.
Leach and Costello took the program Saturday as the SEC went back to action. Mississippi State put a 44-34 hurting on defending nationwide champion LSU behind an SEC-record 623 passing lawns from Costello in Leachs Air Raid offense, and the Bulldogs went from unranked all the method to No. 8 in this weeks ESPN power rankings.
Who states you need to run the ball to win in the SEC? Costello threw the ball 60 times, and the Bulldogs completed with only nine hurrying lawns.
Among the other modifications this week in our rankings is that Pac-12 groups are now qualified, with that conference voting to return to play in November. Alabama, which cruised to a 38-19 roadway win over Missouri, remains No. 1, and what a wild Saturday it remained in the Big 12. Texas gave up 56 points but handled to win in overtime. Oklahoma wasnt as lucky. The Sooners blew a three-touchdown lead in the 2nd half and lost for the 2nd straight season to Kansas State.
And while Clemson is still plainly the class of the ACC till proven otherwise, Miami was the huge mover in that league thanks to its 52-10 dismantling of Florida State. The Hurricanes moved into the top 10 at No. 7 with a trip to Clemson looming in two weeks.
The Ragin Cajuns remained unbeaten Saturday with a 20-18 win over Georgia Southern thanks to Nate Snyders 53-yard field goal on the games final play. Louisiana has actually won 10 of its past 11 video games dating to last season.
Up next: at Appalachian State (Oct. 7, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
North Carolinas video game against Charlotte on Sept. 19 was canceled, and the Tar Heels had a week off this Saturday. The additional time to prepare may not be all bad for UNC, which looked out of sync at times on offense before pulling away for a 31-6 season-opening win over Syracuse back on Sept. 12.
Up next: at Boston College (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN).
It appears like permanently back that Tennessee opened Year No. 2 under Jeremy Pruitt last season with back-to-back home losses to Georgia State and BYU. The Vols, although careless sometimes, ran their winning streak to seven straight video games Saturday night with a 31-27 road win at South Carolina. They closed last season with 6 straight wins, that streak beginning with a win over the Gamecocks, and their latest win was one they probably needed to have if theyre going to be a consider the SECs Eastern Division race this season.
Up next: vs. Missouri (Saturday, twelve noon ET, SEC Network).
There were some lofty expectations for Florida quarterback Kyle Trask in his second season as the starter under Dan Mullens tutelage, and those expectations simply kept climbing up after Trasks 416-yard, six-touchdown performance in the Gators 51-35 season-opening win Saturday at Ole Miss. In specific, the Trask-to-Kyle Pitts connection is scary excellent. Florida, though, may have some work to do on defense after quiting 613 overall backyards to the Rebels.
Up next: vs. South Carolina (Saturday, midday ET, ESPN).
There were some lofty expectations for Florida quarterback Kyle Trask in his 2nd season as the starter under Dan Mullens tutelage, and those expectations just kept climbing up after Trasks 416-yard, six-touchdown performance in the Gators 51-35 season-opening win Saturday at Ole Miss. And on defense, Kevin Steeles system was its usual swarming self in a season opening 29-13 win Saturday over Kentucky. Theres no getting around how anemic Georgia was on offense Saturday in the first half of its season-opening 37-10 win over Arkansas, a group that now has lost 20 straight SEC video games. The Ducks likewise found out Saturday that star safety Jevon Holland prepares to choose out, which is a substantial blow to their secondary, given that cornerbacks Thomas Graham Jr. and Deommodore Lenoir are likewise not playing this season. The Ragin Cajuns stayed unbeaten Saturday with a 20-18 win over Georgia Southern thanks to Nate Snyders 53-yard field goal on the games last play.
With offensive tackle Penei Sewell and the Pac-12s finest player in the lineup, the defending conference champions would be ranked even greater. Sewell is sticking by his earlier choice to decide out for the season. The Ducks also learned Saturday that star security Jevon Holland plans to pull out, which is a huge blow to their secondary, since cornerbacks Thomas Graham Jr. and Deommodore Lenoir are also not playing this season. Fortunately for Mario Cristobals club is that protective end Kayvon Thibodeaux returns after a freshman season that saw him record 14 takes on for loss, including nine sacks.
Up next: TBA.
Keep in mind the hunting report on Oklahoma State coming into the season? For the second straight week, the Cowboys leaned hard on their defense Saturday in a 27-13 win over West Virginia. Well discover out how much over the next few weeks.
Up next: at Kansas (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN).
