The Sun Belt, which started sponsoring football in 2001, has won eight times against 70 losses in video games against Big 12 competitors. A quarter of those wins came on Saturday afternoon.
This is the launching nobody mightve anticipated for the Big 12, which harbored rather practical hopes of putting multiple groups in the College Football Playoff hunt throughout a season presently doing not have the Pac-12 and Big Ten.
No. 25 Iowa State lost to Louisiana-Lafayette. Kansas State lost to Arkansas State. While both are gifted teams from the Group of Five — well touch on both below — this sort of start for the Big 12 is an utter catastrophe, dealing a real blow to the leagues nationwide credibility..
That wont stop No. 6 Oklahoma, for instance, from once again winning the championship game and finding a spot in the national semifinals. (Maybe the exact same could be stated for No. 14 Texas, though the Longhorns havent made the benefit of the doubt.).
What this sort of start does, however, is remove a few of the Sooners margin for error — the Big 12 as a conference will not be afforded the exact same level of respect amongst members of the playoff selection committee as the ACC and SEC. With simply one non-conference video game on the schedule, these losses might prevent the Cyclones and Wildcats from reaching bowl eligibility, in turn impacting the general strength of schedule for teams such as the Sooners and Longhorns.
Here are the rest of Saturdays losers and winners:.
WINNERS.
The Sun Belt.
Lets be clear: There is excellent football played in the Sun Belt. Getting 2 wins in one day against the Big 12 must assist shine a spotlight on teams beyond Appalachian State, the existing king of the conference and among the leading teams in the Group of Five. While not at the basic set by the American, which is each year the Group of Five leader in the New Years Six bowl race, Saturdays wins are recognition for Arkansas State, Louisiana and the conference as a whole..
Louisiana.
The Ragin Cajuns are headed for the Top 25 after Saturdays 31-14 win at Iowa State, though they probably ought to have existed currently. However an area in the Amway Coaches Poll is a significant turning point for the program and the current sign that third-year coach Billy Napier is destined to land on the short list for a number of Power Five openings, need to schools choose to make a training change in the middle of this environment..
Arkansas State.
While the Red Wolves are a yearly lock for the postseason, the program had actually notched only one success against Power Five competition: an 18-14 win against Texas A&M in 2008. Possibly the most outstanding parts of Saturdays win at Kansas State? The ASU defense held the Wildcats to 91 lawns on the ground and enabled the Wildcats to transform simply among 11 tries out third down.
Getting 2 wins in one day against the Big 12 ought to assist shine a spotlight on teams outside of Appalachian State, the present king of the conference and one of the top groups in the Group of Five. Possibly the most remarkable parts of Saturdays win at Kansas State? The Mountaineers 56-10 win versus Eastern Kentucky qualifies as the Big 12s best win of Saturday afternoon. After a fairly frustrating and spotty 2019, Army has opened with a 42-0 win against Middle Tennessee State and Saturdays 27-7 win versus Louisiana-Monroe. The fourth quarter, which saw No. 19 North Carolina score three touchdowns, showed why the Tar Heels have actually been stylish because ending last season with a win against Temple in the Military Bowl.
West Virginia.
The Mountaineers 56-10 win versus Eastern Kentucky qualifies as the Big 12s finest win of Saturday afternoon. It was likewise the only win. (This is where we point out that in-state competing Marshall beat EKU 59-0 last weekend.).
Army.
The Black Knights have been ready to go from the start. After a fairly disappointing and spotty 2019, Army has actually opened with a 42-0 win versus Middle Tennessee State and Saturdays 27-7 win against Louisiana-Monroe. In 2015s slump appears like a short-term dip instead of an indication of things to come.
Spencer Rattler.
Oklahomas newest Heisman Trophy contender finished his starting debut versus Missouri State with 290 passing backyards and 4 touchdowns against 3 incompletions. Not bad for the redshirt freshman. The season opener demonstrated how the Sooners death video game will expand under Rattler after a year leaning on a more well balanced offending scheme under Jalen Hurts, who ended up second in the Heisman ballot as a senior.
The Texas offense.
Texas coach Tom Herman attempted an offseason reboot by employing 2 new planners: Mike Yurcich on offense and former Rutgers coach Chris Ash on defense. The early returns are favorable. The Longhorns 59-3 win versus overmatched UTEP saw senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger throw for 429 backyards and five touchdowns in the first half..
LOSERS.
Florida State.
Two years earlier, Willie Taggart was ripped for Florida States dull efficiency in a loss to Virginia Tech in his debut. What will be said of new coach Mike Norvell after a 16-13 loss in your home to Georgia Tech in his very first game? His period is off to an unpleasant start after the Seminoles lost to an opponent picked to finish last in the conference. The frightening part: Georgia Tech outplayed FSU and ought to have won by more than just three points. The Yellow Jackets committed multiple turnovers and had two field-goal shots blocked..
Iowa State.
This is a bad setback for ISU and a troubling signal for a team predicted to make a home in the Top 25 and finish amongst the leading group in the Big 12. And turning things around throughout Big 12 play would not always be new for ISU, which tends to play much better in October and November than in September.
North Carolina.
Yeah, the very first 3 quarters of the 31-6 win against Syracuse were ugly. The fourth quarter, which saw No. 19 North Carolina score 3 goals, revealed why the Tar Heels have been trendy considering that ending last season with a win versus Temple in the Military Bowl. Is that enough? It was for Syracuse, however the very same sort of sluggishness would put UNC in risk versus teams such as Virginia Tech and Miami, not to mentioned Notre Dame and Clemson.
South Alabama.
After beating Southern Mississippi last weekend, the Jaguars seemed on the verge of another upset after pulling ahead 24-6 on Tulane midway through the third quarter. The Green Wave would score the games final 21 indicate win 27-24, with the win secured after South Alabama committed a 15-yard charge on fourth down as it was set to retake belongings with little bit more than a minute left.
Kansas.
Its football season in Lawrence. Even in coach Les Miles 2nd season, KU remains at or near the bottom of the FBS with little hope of success in Big 12 play.
Follow USA TODAY Sports colleges press reporter Paul Myerberg on Twitter @PaulMyerberg.
