This year’s Top 10 begins with advice for Pac-12. Stay west of the Mississippi River.
On the first full Saturday of the college football season, the league saw two CFP hopefuls, Oregon and Utah, beaten at the hands of the big bad SEC. The Ducks didn’t get a chance to play against Georgia in Atlanta, and Ute was swallowed by the Swamp in Billy Napier’s first game as Gators coach.
The Pac-12 seems to be headed in the unimaginable direction: six straight years without CFP promotion. That 12-team playoff isn’t happening anytime soon!
What else did Week 1 accomplish? Well, college kickers did college kicker things (see: East Carolina). The Kirk Ferentz team drew best of him Kirk Ferentz (Hawkeyes he didn’t get a TD! And won!). Arizona won his second football game with 23 tries (you know!).
Noon Window delivered in a big way and we can thank the state of North Carolina. Looked Just as the state big dogs UNC and NC were about to fall to their little brothers App and East Carolina. The Tar Heels lost a whopping 61 points and to survive he needed a horrific overthrow of his conversion by 2 points. The Wolfpack, who started the season ranked 13th, failed to score in the second half and had to miss an extra point at the buzzer and a missed field goal to escape ECU’s upset bid.
Iowa, meanwhile, managed to win the game without going into the end zone in a surprisingly dysfunctional contest against South Dakota. 0 wins (including Oklahoma and Texas) and Nebraska was in trouble with North Dakota (Scott Frost won’t be long for Lincoln).
The nightcap was delivered in the best possible way. Ohio State swooped in to beat Notre Dame in a Top 5 tangle, and Napier’s Gators stunned her No. 7 Utah on a damp night in Gainesville. Florida State quarterback Anthony Richardson passed with his 168, started with 104, and scored three times.
Ohio narrowly escaped Notre Dame’s rule at the Horseshoe.
Joseph Maiorana/USA TODAYSports
But enough is enough. Reach the Top 10 for the first time in 2022!
1. Alabama (1–0)
Last game: 55-0 victory over Utah
Next game: in texas on saturday
QB Bryce Young and the Tide got a great set-up before their trip to Texas.The Nick Saban-led team took the Aggies 278 yards on the ground and didn’t allow Utah State to drive more than 39 yards. did. Young rested for next weekend’s big game in Austin. He played only one series in the second half.
Last game: 49–3 win over Oregon
Next game: Saturday vs Samford
Think Georgia’s defense has lost too many stars? Do you think Stetson Bennett is still the game manager? Think again! The Bulldogs opened a can of you-know-what to make former DC Dan Lanning’s first game as Ducks coach a less memorable one, and UGA made his first appearance in the game. Scored a touchdown on seven possessions.
Last game: Beat Notre Dame 21–10
Next game: Saturday vs. Arkansas
OK, no one expected the Buckeyes to score just seven points late in the third quarter, but they trailed 10-7 until two notable drives in the second half. One was 70 yards on 10 plays and the other was 95 yards on 14 plays. RB Myan Williams put the game away with five straight carries to close out a 95-yard march. He scored 5, 15, 12, 0 runs and scored a 2-yard touchdown.
Last game: last year!
Next game: at Georgia Tech on Monday
The Tigers take center stage on Labor Day night in a duel with the Yellow Jackets team battling for a coaching job. Jeff Collins needs a win and needs it badly. What a great adjustment for this Hot Seat season of his by opening at Clemson.
Last game: 51–7 win over Colorado State University
Next game: Saturday vs Hawaii
Cade McNamara started the bizarre two-quarterback derby that inspired Jim Harbaugh to quote a Bible verse earlier this week, but he wasn’t the star. Swallowed, the Rams didn’t score until the 11th possession of the game and couldn’t break 200 yards until the final minutes.
Last game: Lost 21-10 to Ohio State
Next game: Marshall vs Saturday
The Irish put up quite a fight. That defense of theirs kept the Buckeyes in check until the final two drives. Sure, it was a loss, and although Marcus Freeman is currently 0-2 in office, he had an impressive run with the nation’s second-best team.
Last game: Break UTP 45–13
Next game: Saturday vs Kent State
Remember Dillon Gabriel? He’s a Sooner now, with his admission to UCLA just around the corner in January after spending his three seasons at UCF. With Caleb Williams moving to his USC, Gabriel’s path changed to Norman, who tallied 233 yards and his two touchdowns in Game 1.
Florida left the swamp with what could be a season-defining victory.
Kim Clement/USA Today Sports
Last game: Beat Utah 29–26
Next game: Saturday vs. Kentucky
In arguably the best game of the day, the Gators got the job done against a Utes team that didn’t handle cross-country travel and humidity well. Oh, and they didn’t handle the Florida athletic quarterback very well either.
Last game: 31–24 win over Cincinnati
Next match: vs. South Carolina on Saturday
what? Were you surprised Hogs made it into the top 10?Sam Pittman’s crew finished his nine-win season, beating out his CFP semi-finalists last year. This is his one of the most impressive wins of Week 1. Don’t sleep on Hogs and his QB KJ Jefferson, who accounted for 285 yards.
Last game: Beat Central Michigan 58–44
Next game: vs Arizona Saturday
QB Spencer Sanders broke the record with a passing day of 406 yards, but the absence of former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles certainly seems to be a problem (now at Ohio State). The Pokes gave up 546 yards and allowed three touchdown drives of 70+ yards. not good.
11*: Iowa (1-0)
Last game: Beat South Dakota 7–3
Next game: vs Iowa Saturday
Bonus 11 of the week was Iowa, who managed to win a football game without scoring a touchdown (a field goal and two safety – yes, two). The Hawkeyes had as many first downs (10) as punts (10). It was a stinking, wildly absurd performance of a Ferenc-led group. Neither team could break the 170-yard mark.
*This is bonus number 11. He’s not the 11th best team in the country, but one that has emerged in an unusual way this week.
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