Well well...week one has come and gone and what an interesting 4 days of football we had. Thursday to Sunday, storylines abound as we a bevy of interesting and surprising results through the week. So how this will work is I will do some general thoughts then go thru each day and talk about more about the games featured on those days. So while I got some Steely Dan in my head and a full cup of coffee... let's get started
FCS over FBS
When looking at the matchups this weekend you knew there was a chance for a few FCS schools to get some victories over some FBS schools but you know the middle is becoming muddier when you only see five FCS victories and are disappointed. While Villanova (Temple) and NC A&T (E. Carolina) wasn't a huge surprise in terms of FCS victories, Nicolls (Kansas), UC Davis (San Jose St), and N. Arizona (UTEP), definitely had you doing a double take as the score hit the bottom line.
And what makes the five wins that much more disappointing were the near misses by James Madison (NC State), Howard (Ohio), SE LA (UL-Monroe), Kennesaw St (Georgia St) and S. Dakota (Kansas St). Needless to say, with some intriguing matchups coming in the next few weeks, don't expect the number of FCS wins to stand at only
Bad Losses
It happens every year where a team starts the year and lays an absolute egg and this opening week was no different. Among the egg layers this opening week...Delaware, New Hampshire, Youngstown St, NC Central, and Southern Utah. Now all can recover from open week losses but for the first three, the losses are rough because of the circumstances it puts them in.
Holding serve
You know outside of a few matchups, opening week tends to be a snooze fest of pay games as the majority of the FCS played teams they should either best down or get beat down and give up or get that check and move on.
Some of the opponents from week 1 (oh and feel free to figure out what conference they come from, they ain't all ACC)...Quincy, Shorter, Oklahoma St., Clemson, Western St, W. New Mexico, Bevard College, Kentucky Christian, Air Force, Memphis...you get the idea. Cash those checks!
New Blood
Both Idaho and N. Alabama made their FCS debuts this Saturday and to mixed results. Idaho got crushed by Fresno St 79-13. The Vandals had seven turnovers and gave up seven rushing touchdowns. For a school where expectations where all over the board, a result like this will not bring along any newfound confidence.
On the other side, N. Alabama pulled off a shocker as it took down defending Big Sky champ S. Utah. Not a ton was expected from the Lions as they transition from Division 2 but with a favorable schedule outside of NDSU and N. Florida, you could see a Mercer like first year before it before it becomes a fulltime Big South member
Thursday Night
FCS over FBS
When looking at the matchups this weekend you knew there was a chance for a few FCS schools to get some victories over some FBS schools but you know the middle is becoming muddier when you only see five FCS victories and are disappointed. While Villanova (Temple) and NC A&T (E. Carolina) wasn't a huge surprise in terms of FCS victories, Nicolls (Kansas), UC Davis (San Jose St), and N. Arizona (UTEP), definitely had you doing a double take as the score hit the bottom line.
And what makes the five wins that much more disappointing were the near misses by James Madison (NC State), Howard (Ohio), SE LA (UL-Monroe), Kennesaw St (Georgia St) and S. Dakota (Kansas St). Needless to say, with some intriguing matchups coming in the next few weeks, don't expect the number of FCS wins to stand at only
Bad Losses
It happens every year where a team starts the year and lays an absolute egg and this opening week was no different. Among the egg layers this opening week...Delaware, New Hampshire, Youngstown St, NC Central, and Southern Utah. Now all can recover from open week losses but for the first three, the losses are rough because of the circumstances it puts them in.
Holding serve
You know outside of a few matchups, opening week tends to be a snooze fest of pay games as the majority of the FCS played teams they should either best down or get beat down and give up or get that check and move on.
Some of the opponents from week 1 (oh and feel free to figure out what conference they come from, they ain't all ACC)...Quincy, Shorter, Oklahoma St., Clemson, Western St, W. New Mexico, Bevard College, Kentucky Christian, Air Force, Memphis...you get the idea. Cash those checks!
New Blood
Both Idaho and N. Alabama made their FCS debuts this Saturday and to mixed results. Idaho got crushed by Fresno St 79-13. The Vandals had seven turnovers and gave up seven rushing touchdowns. For a school where expectations where all over the board, a result like this will not bring along any newfound confidence.
On the other side, N. Alabama pulled off a shocker as it took down defending Big Sky champ S. Utah. Not a ton was expected from the Lions as they transition from Division 2 but with a favorable schedule outside of NDSU and N. Florida, you could see a Mercer like first year before it before it becomes a fulltime Big South member
Thursday Night
- It was a really rough loss for Western Illinois...the 26-23 loss to Montana St put a potential 0-6 start in the crosshairs. Yes the next 5 games are all winnable (yes including at U of I) but just like Thursday the margin for error is slim
- You know Montana St QB is the ultimate definition of a swiss army knife. A year ago, Troy Anderson won Big Sky freshman of the year at running back and linebacker. Thursday he had 145 yards on the ground and 81 in the air while scoring twice. Impressive
- New Hampshire probably had the worse loss of the opening week getting crushed by Maine 35-7 and losing QB Trevor Knight to an AC sprain. Even then Maine dominated outgaining Wildcats 199 to -7 on the ground and 450 to 116 in total yards. With Colgate and Colorado looming a 0-3 start plus a CAA loss could be in the cards and put the playoff streak in jeopardy
- Over the last few years, Delaware has that one loss per year that just has you scratching your head and the opening defeat to URI checks that box. Giving up 14 points off turnovers proved to be the difference in the 21-19 defeat, at home no less.
- Kennesaw St has to be kicking themselves after falling at Georgia St. A late touchdown gave the game to the Panthers but more concerning for Owls fans...only 181 yards rushing on 51 carries. That's not gonna cut it for the triple option. Tenn Tech might be in trouble
- Go figure, UC Davis would be the first team to notch an FCS over FBS victory. And the best part? it wasn't just the Keelan Doss show. Aggie QB Jake Maier was 37 of 55 for 446 yards and three TDs and RB Ulonzo Gilliam totaled 191 yards from scrimmage with three TDs. For the Big Sky, it marks four straight years with a win over the FBS and eight out of nine...impressive
Friday Night
- So Friday was really status quo as it was the "Collect those checks!" games and the blowouts came with it
Saturday
- You could argue the N. Alabama had the win of the week but my money is on PFL member Butler taking down then 25th ranked Youngstown St. And they way they won makes this all the more special for the Bulldogs. After missing a 2pt conversion, they recovered an onside kick then booted a 44yd field goal to steal the win
- And just like Delaware and New Hampshire, the YSU loss really hurts and in ways hurts more than the other two. The MVFC is as deep as ever and losses like this to a PFL team at home really damages an at-large bid if it comes down to it
- I know Butler WR Pace Temple (cool football name) was National player of the week but for my money Howard QB Caylin Newton has the best stat line of the week. In the loss to Ohio, Newton had 532 total yards and 4 total TDs but had 2 picks including the last one that ended the game. Needless to say Howard's chances in the MEAC race rest in that young man
- As a whole, the Big Sky had a great weekend and maybe the best of the bunch. The Big Sky got two wins over FBS opponents, N. Arizona had the second, and the conference holds a 2-1 lead in the Big Sky/MVFC challenge. Next week features two more matchups in the challenge and three more chances to grab another FBS win
- So it seems even turning out the light can't stop the Bison train from rolling. Even after several delays, including one of 23 min, the Bison rolled to a 49-3 victory over Cal Poly. How about them churning 458 yards and all seven touchdowns on the ground while holding the Mustangs to 82 yards on 52 carries. Yep...the march is on
Sunday
- So a week after the heartbreak versus Rice, Prairie View came back in a big way and knocked off a good NC Central and it was never even close. Jumping out 23-0 and crusing to the 16 point win
- And have yourself a day Dawonya Tucker...25 carries, 267 yards and a touchdown
- While it was supposed to be on Sat, the extra wait didn't keep NC A&T from picking up another big win this time over E. Carolina. And wait they did as the weather delayed the game twice due to lighting but it did end in dramatic fashion as the Aggies intercepted a pass but before E. Carolina had all sorts of issues with personnel and whether or not they had enough players on the field and people getting back to the line of scrimmage because of tired dead legs. Definitely a crazy finish
- It was one hell of a fourth quarter for Aggie backup QB Kylil Carter. relieving an injured Lamar Raynard, Carter threw two touchdowns and was an impressive 7 of 9 for 93 yards in leading the Aggies to victory
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