College Football Week 2: Bulls Down Gators, Blowouts Galore

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Week 2 in college football is in the books, and there wasn’t much competition to go around. A huge win by USF over the Florida Gators was surrounded by one blowout win after another. So, let’s do this and see where we are after Week 2.

USF 18 Florida 16

It has been a pretty good first three years for Bulls head coach Alex Golesh. He took over a team that was used to losing. Used to seeing another system fail. Golesh came in talking about buying into the system and what a return he has gotten on his investment from this team.

Last week, USF beat 25th-ranked Boise State in a very impressive win. Yesterday, they went to the Swamp to try and do what this team has never done: beat the mighty Gators. Granted, Florida did not help their cause by driving down the field three times only to get three field goals. Penalties were also a huge factor in this loss, especially on the winning drive.

On the final drive, the Bulls set up for a Nico Gramattica 20-yard field goal that went straight through the uprights for the win. It is the second week that USF has beaten a ranked opponent. It is also just the second time an unranked team has started 2-0 by beating ranked opponents this century. They get ranked opponent #3 next week when they play at #5 Miami.

As for the Gators, well, their offense is not clicking, and a trip to #3LSU won’t make things easier. The calls for head coach Billy Napier’s job will begin in earnest in Gainesville and beyond.

Mississippi State 24 Arizona State 20

The Buldogs got off to a fast start in this one, building the lead to 17-0 before Mississippi State put three on the board just before halftime. The outgained and outgunned Arizona State, and then the Sun Devils did the same in the second half. They would score 20 unanswered points to take a 20-17 lead late in the fourth.

In the fourth, the Sun Devils would put together a 17-play, 95-yard drive that ended just short of the end zone. The field goal would make it 20-17 instead of 24-17, and the Bulldogs would make them pay for that. Blake Shapen would hit Brenen Thompson with 30 seconds left for the win. It was the biggest win for head coach Jeff Lebby and the first time the Bulldogs have beaten a top 15 non-conference opponent in 34 years.

Oklahoma 24 Michigan 13

The John Mateer show was on full display in Ann Arbor as he threw for 270 yards and a touchdown while rushing for the other two Sooners’ touchdowns. His dual-threat ability kept the Wolverines off balance the whole game, and came up big on a 15-play, 69-yard drive that set them up for a field goal that would push the lead to two scores.

It was the college football debut of Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood. He looked good for the most part, but finished just 9-24 for 142 yards. He did show all the signs of a freshman looking unsure most of the game.

The big knock from this game was the delivery from Mateer. A side-arm throw that he may have to adjust before it comes back to bite him and the team.

Blowout just ain’t no fun, and I always ask, why do we keep seeing these games? I get, teams pay a fee or whatever and get to play the big dogs. For some, that works, but others want the competition. Nonetheless, here are some of the blowouts:

Ohio St 70 Grambling 0

Miami 45 Bethune-Cookman 3

Oregon 69 Oklahoma St 3

Florida St 77 East Texas A&M 3

Tennessee 72 East Tennessee St 17

Alabama 73 UL Monroe 0

Just a few of the games we can agree on are just a waste of time to play. But hey, that is my opinion. That’s Week 2 in the books. We will be back with Week 3 next week.