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Week 1 Analysis and Reactions · College Football Nobodies

• Erich: Welcome to College Football Nobodies. It's me, Erich, and my co-host Kevin again. In the midst of week one, almost finally being done. Kevin, I gotta say, every time at this point I get to Monday, I'm ready for games to be on Saturdays only again. As much as I love the five day marathon, week one weighs heavy towards the end. Because it's like, man, there's one more game. And I've heard some people talk about with the week zero being week one next year, and obviously the NFL calendar not changing that what they're talking about is maybe we have two versions of week one next year. No, thank you. I want my one five-day marathon. I can't do a five-day marathon more than one weekend a year. Obviously, my wife would probably kill me if I did that more than more than one five-day stretch a year. So I am happy to be to the point where we're about done with week one and I am ready to get into our regular more Saturday dominated cadence. What say you? Kevin Ivers: That's an interesting take, Erich and I don't hate it. I think that's a really good point. It really the core of what you're saying is that Saturdays are sacred, and there's just something Erich: That's right. Kevin Ivers: about Saturdays in the fall. as much as I know we're fired up to have FSU and SMU on tonight, and it was fantastic to have some really good college football games on last night, which of course we'll touch to in a minute. But no, I I totally, totally get that point. we're really excited about this week one recap show now that everyone got their seasons underway. And the fun thing about college football, as you'll see on our show today, there's a few games, particular one that you never knew you were gonna spend a bunch of time talking about, and that's the magic of college football. So with that said, Eric, how about you lead us off with the first matchup? Let's get into it. Erich: Yeah, so we're gonna go through a bunch of games. We're gonna go through the conferences, dive into the G6 a little bit, and then we're gonna go through our categories at the end of the show. So, first up, let's talk about Ole Miss versus Louisville, it felt like a SEC conference game in the evening, just had the athleticism of that type of game. It went right down to the wire. The game ended with the ball in the best players' hands on the field for either side. And it was just a great game. Like it it delivered on that Sunday slate compared to the other two games, I would argue, in terms of just excitement and like you don't want to miss a play. Kevin Ivers: A thousand percent. Sean McDonough only add to that. Just a phenomenal play-by-play voice, kind of the voice of the SEC now on ABC. It just he's one of those few legend announcers remaining. Whether you want to talk about the trouble with the snap, Michigan Mish State game, t he just has tons of moments. You hear his voice, you're like It's college football season. and Greg McElroy, by the way, I I wasn't sure about him early on. That's they're just a really elite crew to listen to. So, you know, me as an announcer geek, that just adds to the feel, which is what college football's about. To the on-field stuff, you're a hundred percent right. I certainly feel really good about my ACC runner-up pick in Louisville. they looked fantastic toe-to-toe with a top 10 team in Ole Miss. Yeah, Louisville is is gonna be a problem in the conference this year. Super impressive Jeff Brahm continues to be underrated, what he does with his offense. And not an easy offense. You know, they talked about in the game Lincoln Keenholz, the five star that came over from Ohio State. You know, he lost the quarterback battle there to Julian Sand and weren't quite sure about him in the first half. It's like, you know, is this a former five star that's just not gonna quite make it? And Then, wow, the second half he he showed his talents, you know, over 300 passing yards. I I think he had 60 or 70 some yards rushing, true dual thread, had the the time score late to make it 38-38. he was highly impressive, and that's a complex playbook that he had to l learn in limited time and and clearly had a grasp on it. I know some people will knock Louisville for scoring too early there. I think that's really easy to say from the couch. I'm sometimes guilty of that. But, you know, if if you run it up the middle and you get stuffed in hopes of like, we're gonna try to not score, you know, Ole Miss could have called a timeout. So then that backfires and maybe you're in a not so advantageous second or third down spot. So They called a great play, Keenholtz scrambled, and then but you knew there was too much time for Trinidad Chambliss. And he was in midseason form again tonight. Three hundred and thirty or last night, three hundred and thirty six pass yards, three touchdowns. He's incredible. I I think you would agree as good as Dante Moore is I I think I would take. Chambliss as my guy, the top QB in the nation. He's special. Deuce Alexander showed out, but yeah, what a what a winning drive. Got him in position. And then Lucas Carnero drilled the 48 yarder, no doubt. Perfect end over-end kick. 41-38 final. The Rebels take care of business. They were far from perfect, though. You know, two turnovers. Pete Golding has a lot of work cut out for himself with that secondary. I know we've just praised Louisville, and they can certainly score, and they look explosive on offense, as you would expect a Jeff Brahm team to be, but your old miss, you still want to play better than that. So fantastic game, but those are kind of the overarching thoughts from that game for me. Erich: We talked about Trinidad Chambliss really since we started recording. He's dynamic. He reads the defenses, he uses his legs, he takes over games. For me, the great moment was, you know, towards the end when Louisville was driving and making plays, they cut to him and he's just smiling on the sideline. Just excited to watch fun plays happen. I'm like, this dude isn't nervous at all. If he gets the ball with thirty seconds left, they're gonna get in position for a field goal. There's more than thirty seconds left, and I had zero doubt in my my mind in my head that Ole Miss was going to win this game. He's just that good. For me, he's the best quarterback in the country. he should be in the NFL. That's just the reality. He was probably Kevin Ivers: Mm. Erich: the best quarterback in the country last year. And by the way, for those who want to read more about this guy, the only person that was actually recruiting him to transfer to FBS Last year was our boy Lane Kiffin. Like no one else was even really targeting this guy. So Lane Kiffin plucked Kevin Ivers: Great point. Erich: this kid out of D2. And it is wild that someone that good could just be sitting there and had like one opportunity. And not only is he good, but he's probably the best quarterback in the country. I think if we're talking Heisman favorites, you gotta be talking him. And the reason I say that is because he's gonna put up numbers because they have to score a lot of points. Because, as you mentioned, the defense. I think is an issue for Ole Miss in space. And they're going to be playing against teams that in the SEC that do have really good defenses. I think they're our target for them. I think you said like eight and four is is is probably about right. we'll see how it goes. But I regardless of what their record is, they're going to I don't think there's gonna be a game where they're not in it at the end. I just don't see a team really slowing him down because he is that good. Like I said, he should be playing in the NFL. He's that good, but obviously probably g a bag of cash to play for Ole Miss for one more year, and that extra experience will only serve him well as he makes the jump to the NFL next year. So great performance by Kevin Ivers: He's speak speak it up. Erich: them overall. Kevin Ivers: And speaking of that, with the com you know, saying he should be in the NFL, he reminds me of those elite, you know, Hall of Fame quarterbacks in the NFL where if they get the ball back with forty seconds and they just need a field goal, it's automatic. They're driving their team to do that to win the game and and Trinidad Chambliss is you give him a little bit over a minute in the college game. it it's automatic and yeah I saw that smile too when Louisville scored and clean old sign up he nods just like okay yep my turn I'm ready to go so yeah special player excellent excellent game but I'm with you I I think old Miss is gonna lose three, four, maybe five games. I know that sounds crazy, but I I see them on the the other end of these types of games this year to your point. Erich: Yeah, I agree. Now another game that happened at the same time that wasn't nearly as close. Notre Dame, Wisconsin. We both predicted Notre Dame to win by two touchdowns and or more. And I think they won by four touchdowns. great first half, back and forth. Some was mistakes by Wisconsin to spot Notre Dame 14 points. And the reality is if you're playing a top five team, which Notre Dame appeared to be. Not only by record, but by performance on the field in terms of just what they're able to do with the running game and the passing game and their pressure from their front four throughout the game. If you spot a team like that 14 points, you're probably going to lose. And that's what happened to Wisconsin. Again, tale of two halves, but that's two halves in football, four quarters. So it doesn't matter how competitive it is in the first half. If you're not competitive in the second half, you're going to lose. That seems to be Fickle's. MO. I think Wisconsin was looking for some signs of life here, some signs that maybe we're going to start turning a corner. Well, they're going to have to wait another week to see that. the reality is they played and are not unfamiliar with playing top five teams because they've played several over the past two to three years in the non conference and in the in conference play as well with the scheduling they've got of they've had. And the reality is we haven't seen anything different yet. Notre Dame, no one in particular jumped out for me. Like CJ Carr, he looked fine. at running back and wide receiver, they looked fine. Aeneas Williams, he looked like a solid running back for them. They they just looked like a really strong team from top to bottom. Didn't really see a superstar for them on either side of their ball. I will say their secondary, really, really physical. I do think there's going to be games where, you know, if they're playing Miami, I don't think the officiating is going to be as friendly as it was to them I just think in a a game that has multiple teams ranked in it, you're probably gonna see some tighter officiating in those games. but their defenders are really physical throughout. we'll see when they play a more talented team later in the year, like Miami, how they can hold up down the field. But for me, I don't think there's any holes on Notre Dame's team. I just don't see a Malachi Tony at wide receiver. I don't think CJ Carr is on Trinidad Chambliss's level in terms of not only running but passing as well. Though that being said, to be fair to him, I don't think he has that dynamic downfield threat to really show maybe what he can do in the passing game. to me, he's a really strong quarterback. He's a I don't want to call him a game manager, but he can use his legs a little bit. He can use his arm when he needs to. He doesn't make mistakes. And you saw that throughout this game. He didn't really make a single mistake. He knows what Freeman wants out of him. And maybe that's just their plan. Like we've seen that style work before. Jim Harbaugh won a national championship and went to, you know, three playoffs back to back to back that way. Ohio State kind of won a championship that way. Miami. Got to the national championship that way. I mean, Miami is not nearly as dynamic on offense as they, you know, they looked this week last year. So, as much as I say that, you don't need to be, you don't need a Jeremiah Smith at wide receiver. You don't need to throw for 400 yards a game to go and win a national championship. Notre Dame, I think, true top five team and still the national title contender that people proclaimed them to be in the offseason. Kevin Ivers: I need to know what Luke Fickel's doing at halftime. I i it is i I Yeah. Erich: Nothing. No, to answer your question, he's not doing anything at halftime. He comes in, says, Good job, guys. we we played that one close. just do this, you know, do whatever you want in the second half. That's that's all he does. He doesn't do anything. Kevin Ivers: I yeah, it's right you could be right. Or ma is it a ten minute power nap? I I really don't know because it was very fair to wonder if Luke Fickle and the Wisconsin program was turning the corner in that first half. They were playing physical, aggressive run defense. I'm not sure Andy had a run longer than like four yards in the first half. it was an impressive first half defensively. They hit a big shot downfield. Receivers looked like they had a little bit more juice than we've seen, and you're sitting there going, okay, down 13-10 at half. Top five Notre Dame team. And just the wheels come off in the second half where all those good vibes go away. Ends up being 41-13. And ND makes some adjustments and they start running the ball more. And We talked a little offline. What what's up with the free access throws to the boundary given up to CJ Carr like secondary was supposed to be a little bit more athletic for Wisconsin this year. Okay, show it off. Get up there, make him complete some tougher throws over the middle. You know, he never really had to go to a tough post over the middle, never was stressed, you know, and then these last few years in the fickle regime, it there just always seems to be a back breaking play for the Badgers. And sure enough, s N D scores to start the second half. It's twenty to ten. Okay. Wisconsin needed to respond and Colton Joseph throws a terrible out route, pick six, essentially ending the ballgame right there at a three-score game. And those are s things that are hard to fix because they just become who you are as a program. So you know that, of course, better than anyone. Tough game, and you know, we're not gonna find out more about Luke Fickel in this program until they head up to state college at the end of the month for the Big Ten opener. you know, we'll see. They they got Western Illinois and is it is it Eastern Michigan next, not gonna find out a ton there. Flipping to the ND side of things, I am a hundred percent with you. I said it, or I thought you said it incredibly well. That there's no glaring weaknesses for this team. And I hate to just go right into picking apart a team that beat a power four conference opponent on a neutral field in the opener by four touchdowns. But it's it's Notre Dame. They're gonna be compared amongst the elite. There's a lot of pundits out there that have them as their national champion. So that's the light that I'm going to talk about them in. And they are a very good team. Their strength, I believe, is defense. That was pretty clear last night. To your point, the stars don't reside offensively. They reside on defense. Leonard Moore is arguably the top corner in the nation, physical, handsy guy. but he's terrific. Bubakar Treyor is tough off the edge. Marcus Freeman, of course, has recruited on that side of the ball exceptionally well. But offensively, I'm with you. There's just not the juice that you see from a Miami on offense. in Oregon, in Ohio State, etc. Those teams that have those elite playmakers that can flip the game in an instant. You know, Jeremiah Love's gonna be missed. He was a generational back. Of course, he's in the NFL now. Jadarian Price, two first round backs. We talked about that in this game. Aeneas Williams, solid. He showed better in the second half, had a some more holes to run through. He's good, of course. He he's at Notre Dame on scholarship. But this we're talking about, are you a special team? CJ Carr looked fine. We'll see how he progresses. Jordan Faison's a solid receiver. You know, Great House, you know, they expect a lot from. We'll see how those Ohio State transfers do at receiver. But yeah, there's. I don't see a ton of dynamic playmakers for them. And that's going to be, to me, the biggest question mark when they take on Miami or maybe get challenged at BYU. So. Those are my takeaways from that game. With that said, we got the Apple Cup. We had Washington and Wazoo kicking things off on MBC just before that. Certainly lived up to the environment of the week on the Puget Sound, mid-60s, the sun shining, shadows coming across the field, the beautiful purple and gold husky uniforms against the white and crimson of Washington State. It was aesthetically pleasing in that regard. Not the most aesthetically pleasing game played on the field. so I'll let you start that one off, Eric. What is your takeaways on the Huskies and the Koogs? Erich: My main takeaway is starting last season early through the year and even into the preseason of this year is people talk about Jedd Fisch's Washington as if they're this sneaky playoff contender. I didn't see it last year. Their offensive line was not good last year, and their offensive line does not appear to be good this year. I think Demond Williams is is a really solid QB. He'll get you some stats and yards because of his athletic nature and ability to escape pressure. But that being said, you know, I remember going into when Ohio State was traveling to Washington last year, everyone was like, Well, look out, upset alert, this is a tough place to play. And you just saw what ended up being a mismatch in terms of athleticism and physicality outside the quarterback position. I think Washington's the exact same this year. They were playing a much less armed opponent in Washington State. They ended up winning by two scores. It was a little closer than that. A lot of penalties that disrupted the game quite a bit. So Washington, I I just I don't know how it's gonna go for them as they as they go. They're gonna be facing opponents that are a lot tougher than Washington State, especially in the trenches. Hopefully they improve. I believe their left tackle is a a true freshman. But for me, this game, I was looking for okay, rivalry game. Those can get tough, great environment, all those things. But Washington State is in is at least supposed to be in a much different plane of talent and existence right now than Washington. And to me, we didn't see that. We saw two teams pretty similar outside the quarterback position and what Demond Williams was able to do to get them out of trouble. Like you take Demond Williams outside off the field and I don't know, this game ends in a tie would be the way I would match it up. So I was hoping to see Washington kind of like stomp on their rival, like, hey, like you're just not in the same places as right now. That didn't really happen. They ended up getting the win and they did what they needed to to get the two touchdown win. to me it again, the score is a little deceiving, it's a little closer than that. Again, a lot of penalties disrupted things, but we'll see how it goes. But that's how I would take a my that's my takeaway with this game is and Washington has a lot of freshmen on the field, on both sides of the ball. So that maybe that works itself out as those guys improve throughout the year. But you know, I just don't know how much of a jump you're gonna make during the season as a true freshman. I think you'll improve, but it's not like you're gonna be playing like a fifth year senior at that point. So I'm not disappointed. It's a power four opponent in week one rivalry. Most teams are playing cupcakes in FCS. In fact, just a reminder here if your team played in FCS school this week, there's a good chance you're not going to be talked about. That's just a rule we have here. Like we might mention you in the conference whip arounds as we get to but you're not gonna be a mainstay game recap for us. So that's my takeaway. Kevin Ivers: Yeah, I I'm worried we're just being sold snake oil with this Washington program. It and I'm guilty of it too. It's a cool program. Like you want them to be among the major players in college football as they've been. You know, they're just one of those sneaky programs where a lot of people don't realize the capabilities and what they've done with their history, you know, going back to Don James. But I'm not seeing it like You know, this this was a game where you need to come out in the first game, especially versus your I know it's a rivalry. I get that the Apple Cup, we talked about that, it's fierce. But Wazoo is in a major rebuild. New coach, new QB, roster picked apart by the portal. R yes, rivalry games get weird, but if you're supposed to take the next step in the Big Ten, is a lot of people feel you have the roster to do so. Being in a a seventeen ten dogfight in the fourth quarter is not really instilling a lot of confidence in really anyone. The major red flag in this game is discipline. Twelve penalties, Eric. Twelve. For a hundred and thirty yards. Erich: It was flag, flag, flag, flag, flag everywhere. Kevin Ivers: Unacceptable. Unacceptable for Jed Fish's team. Yes, the defense forced three turnovers and Washington State didn't convert a third down. You know, those are your highlights, Husky fans. But I'm sorry. This is a negative takeaway, and I don't think you could have said it any better about Demond Williams. Immensely talented, gonna put up numbers in yards and all those things. But is he a winner? You know, we talked about. That the leadership seems to be restored and Jed Fish a s supposedly on the outside did a good job when Demond Williams, of course, was, you know, gonna be on his way out the door, you know, perhaps to LSU. Is it? I don't know. I'm not in that locker room. You're not in that locker room. What how you know, is there an issue there with just connection and continuity and the culture and all those things? Don't know. But they should be better than this. They didn't score in the third quarter. They they have those lapses where they're they're just a flash in the pan at times and and then they look brutal for stretches. So I'm I'm I'm not confident coming out of that week one could be an overreaction, but not a great look for the Huskies and and Jed Fish if you're talking about a sleeper in the Big Ten. So that's where I'm at. Erich: Yeah, I agree. And the last thing I'll say is when every yard on offense just looks like it's hard. Kevin Ivers: Yes. Erich: There's some unknown causing it, and we don't know what that is. So hopefully we learn what it is, and hopefully Washington ends up being fun to watch. But yesterday they were not. So a game that was not pretty the day before, but boy was it exciting, and boy did it deliver narratives and discussions afterwards. If we had a category called The Robbery of the Week from the Referees. This might win the all-time award. In fact, you might not even give it out ever again because you just can't top what we witnessed. Michigan hosting Western Michigan. Disgusting game to watch to the end. Western Michigan won this game until this new set of magically timed clocks that don't line up Kevin Ivers: Ha ha. Erich: with the official game clock, mind you, which is what the referees use to add time back on. To the play clock and to the regular clock throughout the game presented itself and Michigan wins on a Hail Mary. I guess kudos to scoring on a Hail Mary like that on your second attempt. this one just stinks. I I don't think we're gonna stop talking about it for a long time. But I think for us, we don't need to replay all the narratives that. The Josh Pates and the others of the world are already covering. They're talking about the game officials that they've talked to. And obviously we don't have that kind of reach. I think the bigger story that's getting buried in all of this is just how bad Michigan looked, how awful Bryce Underwood looked, how undisciplined a Kyle Whittingham team looked. You know, all these things we thought, boy, what happens if you see a Michigan team that kind of adheres to the Kyle Winningham standard? Over his, you know, 17 or 18 years of coaching, like that could be dangerous. We didn't see any of that. And you have to wonder, is the Bryce Underwood problem? Because again, he looked awful outside that first drive, or when he can clearly use his feet, he doesn't look good. He looks indecisive. He obviously he usually misses the open guy. And yes, Western Michigan is predicted by many. To win their conference this year. They are one of the better group of six teams that's out there. But this is Michigan at home, no excuse. And so for me, the bigger story is not that because frankly, with Michigan plays several other good teams throughout the year. I don't know that winning or losing this game one way or another matters. It's those games later that matter. Who is Michigan gonna beat in the Big Ten if that's how they're playing? Like that's the bigger question. Like Oklahoma's going to be there, it's Monday. They're gonna be there in five days. Kevin Ivers: Ha ha. Erich: Like Oklahoma played great this week and Mateer is healthy. So for me, that's the true narrative. It's holy crap, this isn't what we thought we were gonna see for a Kyle Winningham team and buckle up because there's was not a lot to see there that leads me to believe that they can beat Michigan, or excuse me, that they can beat Oklahoma, that they can beat Ohio State, that they can beat any of the better teams that are playing this year. Kevin Ivers: Yeah, of all programs to be involved in a controversy like this. Erich: Ha ha. Kevin Ivers: Could couldn't be more college football. You know, I like I said, I'll just touch on the clock thing for a second. Y you just feel awful for Lance Taylor and Western Michigan playing their hearts out a Mac program. They had that thirteen minute drive. ball control, they're kicking field goals, they're playing the only way they know how to win this game versus the elite big brother in state. To have that stolen from is just a really a shame. It's a career defining game it that's taken away from Lance Taylor and those kids. You'd always remember Western Michigan for that. Kudos to Kyle Whittingham. It's why we've always respected him. Very classy, you know, is shown that He was talking to Lance Taylor on the field at the end the game. And whatever he mouthed, it was something along the lines of like, yeah, there was no time left. You guys won the game. And so kudos to him. That was good to see. Cause everyone knew that's what happened. And stuff. Yes, great catch by JJ Buchanan for Michigan. But yeah, the the bigger story is Michigan. And it's so shocking, because back to Kyle Whitneyham, like we talked about, a guy that we have had so much respect for, a Hall of Fame career learned from Urban Meyer at Utah. Toughness, discipline, playing the right way, and and none of that showed up. This was an abject disaster for the Wolverines in game one. I 11 penalties, 12 men on the field at times. I I don't know what type of operation this was. It's just there was there's almost no words for it, you know. Bryce Underwood, I was trying to give him a pass on some of our earlier shows because you know me, I was one of his biggest attractors last year. Well, I'm right back on that bandwagon because I really thought that Jason Beck coming over from Utah would fix the issues. But I'm sorry, when footwork issues show up in year two and it's the same things. I just don't have confidence gonna change. It's incredible because on the first drive, they go down there, he's five for five making plays, and it's seven zero. And then it just r resorted right back to last year, you know, on a key third down. He looks for Savian Heider in the flat. And his feet get all mixed up, throws off his back feet, doesn't step into it. He's got this other thing where like when he rolls out, his like body is like in front of his feet, and he doesn't like he just kinda just only throws with his arm. Todd Blackledge explained it better than I did, but you get the idea. He worries me, like a lot. I I think It's a full on question to wonder if CJ Carr's brother are we gonna see him this week versus Oklahoma. He looked better in the spring game. His footwork and fundamentals, as I talked to you this summer, I was really blown away in the spring game at how good Tommy Carr looked compared to Bryce Underwood. And that was shocking for me. So I think there's a real chance if things go south in a in in a hurry and those boobirds come out in the big house with the Sooners in town That we see Tommy Carr, Lloyd Card's grandson. So I I I just can't even believe we're talking about this game. Never in a million years would I think this game would be close. We're all worried about, you know, the rest of the Big Ten A. What can Michigan look like under Whittingham? So we shall see moving forward. He also Whittingham just, and I know he can look like this in some games. He looked like he was like in a daze of what's happening half the time. You know, wasn't communicating a ton on that hep set. You know, a few times, you know, he showed his frustrations with penalties or what is what is happening. But I think he was he looked just as surprised as the viewers. So last thing I'll say is looking at the look aheadline. on Saturday, it was Michigan favored by a point and a half. After this game ended, it quickly shifted to four four and a half in favor of Oklahoma. So a six point change on the spread. It's now Michigan plus six. They're getting six points at home now. Oklahoma's a six point favor now. I think rightfully so Michigan could not run the ball in this game either. the list goes on, but I'll stop there. Erich: Yeah, I think you made a great point. And before we go on our next game, the last thing I'll say is unfortunately for Michigan, this might delay what you want to happen, which is Underwood being benched in favor of Carr Now you probably have to wait for at least another half of bad football for that to happen, if that's what you're hoping for to happen. Well, let's go to some what the heck happened to Michigan's program in that game to potentially the death of a program. Clemson at LSU. I don't know. Yes, LSU was the favored team because of their roster, because they're at home. But in terms of narratives and distractions, you couldn't have handed anything else to Clemson to at least make this a game. You know, all the Lane Kiffin and stuff with the NFL players, all that stuff is happening. And then you get a lightning storm, rain delay, and Just there's all these things going on to where it's like, okay, maybe this will be a game. It wasn't a game. Clemson looked like a group of six team. It's actually sad. And it has to be just a gut-rutchingly sad for a Clemson fan. I I mean, you've you've been in this position yourself, Kevin, where there's just this legendary coach that you can't let yourself hate, but you want him to move on. And he hasn't moved on on his own. And so now it's likely going to become potentially, I shouldn't say likely. I mean, there's still a long season. This could potentially become maybe a lessened version of Oklahoma State last year. But again, this is Dabo Sweeney, Clemson, the only team that really stood up to the Saban Alabama teams for the most part during his run and beat them multiple times and won multiple titles and you know at was I think made it to at least three. has been to the expanded form version of the playoff. And boy, they look like it's gonna be a long season for them. Whereas flip side LSU looks like the playoff favorite that many people expected them to be under Lane Kiffin. Sam Levitt looked great for that offense. Dylan Jones, former Badgers running back, looked like a great fit for that offense as well. And for me that was this ended up being a game that just wasn't fun to watch. It was actually sad to watch because it's like you had one team that is just way better than the other. And this was a close game last year. And so to see it get to this point, man, rough to see. And I sympathize with Clemson fans. I it can't be easy for them right now, thinking about what the heck are we gonna do from here. Kevin Ivers: No doubt. This was the end of an era. Clemson had been eroding these last few years. You know, I I still believe Dabble maybe had one last run. Not a national championship run, but maybe a a run on the national stage. Instead, they were invi eviscerated in front of the nation. In Lane Kiffin's debut, I'm sure that he hurt even more. Cause you know those Clemson fans are tired of all Lane Kiffin this and LSU and it's it's like they would have loved to come in there like, hey guess guess what, little old Clemson, like we're we're playing a football game too. And it just only stirs up the Lane Kiffin hype train even more. You know, it it's hard to have any confidence in Clemson after that. You know, I I know that I mentioned the schedule will help. The tape will not. 38 first downs for LSU. 644 yards. They had 11 tackles for loss. The outgained Clemson by like over well over 500 some yards. I mean, what a statement. Like Kiffin. I you couldn't have drawn it up any better. They could have won 34-14 and people would have been over the moon. Like, wow. I mean, this was a video game. Like you said, it looked like a FCS or a Sunbelt opponent they were just taking to the woodshed. I mean, I don't know how th this hype train already left the station. And it is cruising down the tracks like that train in Unstoppable. And I don't know if Denzel Washington's gonna be there to hop on with Chris Pine to slow it down. Great movie, by the way. But yeah, you just could not be more impressed with with this operation of LSU. Same same thing. the The cohesion of this roster and the turnover. You talked about Sam Levitt and Dylan Jones coming from Wisconsin and it just is like everything worked. Everything worked. And maybe this will be more of an indictment on Clemson, but I don't think so. When you beat a team like this, you're you're pretty dang good. So kudos to Kiffen. You know, he sucks all the oxygen out of the room. He walks on the Tiger Walk with Livy Dunn. And he's just, you know, he's signing footballs and throwing Sharpies in kids' faces. And he's just ridiculous in every way. But then it's like you get you forget, like, yeah, this guy can coach some ball. And wow. Gonna be fun to watch them. I have them in the playoff. Certainly think. It's got a great chance to happen, but yeah, what a a night they won't soon forget in Baton Rouge, that's for sure. And in Clemson, so Erich: Yeah, I think the true tiger has been crowned. The true Death Valley has been crowned. And henceforth Kevin Ivers: Yeah. Erich: Clemson until the Clemson until they show otherwise should be called the Clemson Paper Tigers because that's what they looked like. Moving Kevin Ivers: Thanks. Erich: on. Sneaky good game early on Saturday. Boise State. Traveling to Oregon. Oregon favored by quite a bit. Many saying the best roster in the country. But what you shouldn't forget is that Boise State is a top twenty program in this country, They show it year in and year out. Really good, really experienced quarterback, great coaching staff. Everyone buys in. And they're just they don't care who you are, how loud, loud your crowd is. And you could see it. They were not phased. The atmosphere had no bearing on the game. And man, it would have been really interesting had the only mistake Boise State made in this game. was the sequence at the end of the first half where they're pinned back. There's not a lot of there's just over a minute left. And they run the ball, you know, forcing Oregon to use one of their, you know, timeouts. And then they pass twice, two incompletions. Now Oregon has like a minute and one second left and two timeouts. And really that's what ended up giving them enough time to run their offense and and and score. And instead of it being 1710 at halftime in in favor of Boise State. It was 1714. And I don't want to say that was the entire game right there, but man, did that make a difference on the game going forward? And had that mistake not occurred by Boise State, this would have been fascinating. Maybe it goes to overtime. Who knows? as it sits, Oregon got that touchdown. Then in the second half, Oregon really, really turned it on. Dante Moore ended up having An incredible second half. Oregon's receivers kicked it into gear and they got some some long chunk plays and some big touchdowns. And kudos to Boise. You know, there was like I think a 10 point or 17 point run by Oregon to go up by seven, and then Boise fired right back. And then it was back and forth and until the end. And and Boise State finally ran out of gas and Oregon got the stop they needed to go ahead and win the game. 3417 in favor of Oregon. A lot of people are gonna act like this is an indictment against Oregon. And to that I would say, who did your team play? My guess is not a an opponent that was nearly as good as Boise State. In fact, and I what I would say to Oregon fans is you should feel great about this game because that is clearly a really, really good Boise State team. They punched you in the mouth. You took it, you got the win, and you're just gonna be better prepared to go here. you travel to Oklahoma State next week, A team that is clearly way further away from being back to relevancy than people thought. And then you got Portland State. So you've already passed an early test, whereas many teams are gonna have to wait at least two or three more weeks before they even get to that point. So I think a great win for Oregon, a sneaky good win against a team in Boise State that very well could be your G six team in the playoffs this year. Kevin Ivers: Well said, Oregon gets the benefit of the doubt. Like you said, they they weren't out there playing Alcorn State. This is Boise State, the Gonzaga football. I love that Dante Moore said after the game on the CBS broadcast, like, give credit to those guys. We knew they'd play hard and they came in a couple of years ago, like we talked about in our preview. And Oregon escaped thirty-seven thirty-four. So Oregon knew it was a game program. If you know college football, you knew this had a chance to maybe be something like this. So I'm with you. I'm gonna give Oregon the benefit of the doubt. They they did out gain Boise 497 to 274. So that tells you a little bit of something. but yeah, Oregon at times, I will say it was, you know, when they were down 10, there was definitely some, you know, anxious moments. You could feel that in in Austin, you could feel that from their players inside line, but Championship level programs, no matter what week it is, you know, they had to dig down in this game and and battle back and and Dan Lanning's ball club did that. You know, they can certainly make corrections. Of course, there's plenty of things for them to clean up. Yeah, this is a national title or bust season for them. Dante Moore was his usual self, 378 yards. Course, the game winner did DeCorian Moore where he just puts on the brakes and then goes to the house. He could have a huge, huge year for the ducks. You know, number one receiver recruit. Had a great true freshman season. Almost doesn't get enough hype, but I I I think he could this year. Special player. I think he was in and out a little bit last year with some injuries, but still showed out a lot of time. So nope, I this doesn't deter me from Oregon. That's how much respect you and I have for Boise. And this is Boise's had some teams in recent years where they did thrive off a little bit of that name, and it was like, this isn't quite vintage Boise. This this seems like a vintage Boise team. And Spencer Danielson can coach. Maddox Madsen's a terrific leader. And this was just a great, great college football game. So kudos to both teams. A lot of fun. To watch the competitive nature of these programs go at it. So those are my thoughts. Did you have anything else on on Oregon or Boise, Eric? Erich: The only thing I'll say is Oregon at times, their offensive line got pushed around and their defensive line. And it wasn't all the time. There was just some spurts, and those spurts are where Boise was able to score quite quite efficiently. so we'll see if they clean that up as they go. So another low scoring game that kind of was the battle of transfer. quarterbacks slash a a new coach. Auburn versus Baylor. A game that could have went to overtime, but a different path was selected. So if you're an Auburn fan, you probably feel great that you got the win against again, a a power four opponent. kudos to Auburn for actually playing someone in in week one rather than playing, you know, a cupcake. But Baylor, Dave Aranda, they score the touchdown that can tie instead of going for the extra point. They decide to go for two. I think it was the right decision. Given that legway was playing on a sprained ankle that happened during that game. So, you know, you have to ask yourself is like how how much, you know, can we really hold on here? Like we got the tie, we just need two yards to win the game. They don't get the extra points. it was I think a good play call that just you couldn't quite Get it there. So I don't know that there's a lot to take away from either of these teams. the only thing I'll say is like Baylor looked a little better on offense throughout. I think Byron Brown for Auburn looked like he was struggling a little bit against the competition. And this isn't going to be the toughest competition you play. So as high as you and I were on Alex Golish and Byron Brown, I'm not pumping the brakes on it. But I am looking at the blinking yellow light and maybe taking my foot off the gas. And let's just see what happens as we go forward here. So real rock fight in this one. 17, 16, Auburn gets to win over Baylor. I would c actually I weirdly come out higher on Baylor out of this than Auburn just because the nature of the schedules that each of these teams is going to face. How about you? Kevin Ivers: First, I am gonna disagree with you on the two-point conversion call. And normally I Erich: Okay. Kevin Ivers: would normally I would agree with you. But I just think with Dave Aranda on the hot seat, you played with Baylor all game. You outgained them. Maybe if it was a situation where you were just fortunate to be in that spot and you clearly knew Auburn was the better team, then you do that. But take your chances in overtime. Byron Brown, who you mentioned, looked uncomfortably. He threw three picks. Maybe throws another one right at you in overtime. It's it's still college football after after all. And and maybe you you luck out in some way and you get out of there in a huge week one victory versus an SEC opponent. And now you got some momentum down there in Waco. But alas, he did not. Terrific defensive play by Auburn. Inches short. Legway puts that out in front of the receiver. Then we're not talking about this. And Baylor gets the win. But I'm with you. Maybe pump the brakes on Auburn a little bit. At the same time, you know, they'll they they have a lot a lot of time to still come together to learn goalish assist them. All those types of things. But yeah, far from convincing. Would have expected a little bit more out of their offense. kudos to Auburn's defense. Yeah, they did force four turnovers. A part of that's the sloppiness of Baylor, but you gotta give the defense some credit. They they held they really limited Baylor on the ground and stuff. So they found a way to win, which You know, how many times can you look back in a season where, wow, it's week seven, a team is rolling or a surprise team's having a breakout year, and you you look back and it's like wow, they they could have easily lost in week one to so and so. Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: So that that happens a ton. But yeah, that was that was a fun game, competitive game, and one and for Alex Golish. And the Auburn Tigers. Erich: Yeah, when you're a power four team, playing another power four team, week one, new season, a win is a win, for the most part. I mean, you've seen it Kevin Ivers: Yes. Erich: countless times where I mean go back and look at Miami last year, several close wins in conference. It's not like they blow blew everyone out, and then they go to the national championship. So when you're playing another power four team, they have athletes that are power four athletes, a win is a win. And another Power four versus power four matchup. UCLA at Cal. this was a fun one to watch. QB battle, big road win for Bob Chesney. Really impressed with UCLA. they they got out out of the gates quick. You know, Cal came back and made it a game, but then UCLA they did what they needed to do to get some turnovers. The they ran for 270 yards. No one really gave UCLA a lot of preseason love, if you will, other than like let's let's see how they look. But boy, they look pretty good. And you know, they played a a pretty solid Cal team on the road at night. And I gotta say, like, I'm starting to pump the gas on UCLA a little bit. I think they're gonna win some games this year. and they have some a schedule that puts them in a spot to win some games and we'll see how it goes. But I was really impressed with what I saw from them on the road. You get the big win. Yeah, there's a a a punch from the home team, but you come back and you know, you really end up winning by twenty one points. So great win for UCLA. I think this is going to really set this set the tone for them going forward. Kevin Ivers: I'm with you. You know, it was just a lot of talk of Bob Chesney and what can he do out there in Westwood. And then and then it just kind of ended there. This is a roster that can compete in year one. There's talent, there's always athleticism. I love how they won this game. Because Nico Imma Aliava, I always have to say that slow. You know, he was fine. You know, threw for 184, didn't have a touchdown, had one pick, you know, was, you know, pedestrian for his standards. And I I'm good with that because I thought this was gonna be a game where if UCLA won, I was wrong. I picked Cal. But if UCLA won, it was gonna be a shootout, and it's Ema Aliava and Saga P Pulitelli. What a what a name matchup of quarterbacks. Jeez. Erich: huh. Kevin Ivers: I thought it was gonna be those two guys dueling it out, and Cal and JKS come out on top. But UCLA took the Chesney approach, brought that physicality, man, and they ran the rock. Anthony Woods, 118 yards, 15 yards of carry. I think that's pretty good. Wayne Knight. You know, they ran for what do they run for? They ran for 271. That's really encouraging for Bruins fans, like you said. So pound in the rock, offensive line looked really solid, and they ran away with this game in the fourth quarter and took it to Cal on the road versus a place that was fired up, sold out. The Tosh Lapoy. regime in Cal's got a lot of excitement. You know, he comes over from Oregon. There's a lot of belief that he can get things going there. But UCLA takes the old Pac twelve matchup and they did it with twenty one unanswered. Here we thought it was twenty four all and it was coming down to the wire, but For the first time in a long time, like UCLA looked physical and organized, and that there was a sense of direction. And it's so funny to it's like clockwork. These coaches like Bob Chesney that come from James Madison, a program with Les that just know how to coach ball, you know, it is just so imminent when you see that from the very beginning. It's it sticks out like a sore thumb. And and really. As you're seeing with some of these other programs that we've touched on, you know, like Lane Kiffin and some others we're gonna touch on, i it really can happen in year one overnight, you know, and of course some of that's the portal, but some of it is You get a great head coach, and that's why we love college football so much, and it's the same thing in college hoops. You feel that impact right away. That, great, there's a new NBA coach or NFL coach. I I I couldn't tell you what the heck when you watch a game with the Jaguars are doing different from the Bills. Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: But when you watch this UCLA game, it was like yes. A real coach here is in town versus a program that has a chance to maybe be at sleeping giant might be a little bit of a stretch for still a basketball school. But hey, a competitive top twenty five player on the national stage year in and year out, which UCLA would die for that. And that would be f that would be fun to see and reinvigorate that USC UCLA rivalry and more than just the TV revenue and the eyeballs out in LA and all that stuff. Like be like, hey yeah, here's another here's another challenger in the Big Ten when you're playing UCLA. Erich: Yeah, to your point, when you don't feel the weight of your coach in a positive way, usually pretty in a good indication there's potentially a problem. And at least in week one, UCLA definitely has that. And it's going to be exciting to watch them and if they take a step forward that I think just adds an element to the big ten from the Western teams that we sorely need. Speaking of Western teams, Kevin. I wonder if this is his first one there, or there can't be many. But Lincoln Riley gets a 39-0 win. Kind of ends the narratives from week zero in terms of toughness being able to stop the other team. Obviously, their starters played longer. but we did see a team in USC actually physically dominate a game where they should physically dominate. And that's something we haven't seen from his teams, regardless of the competition level of competition they're playing in the past. Now we see that. total domination obviously covered the 70-point spread, 39-0. Just no question from beginning to end. And a USC team that if this becomes part of who they are, you know, maybe we're starting to get back to those, you know. Pete Carroll era teams where they just can physically beat up on teams. So again, Fresno State, obviously a team they should beat by at least 17 and a half, as they were favored by. But this is I you know, you go back any year since he's been at UC USC, and you know Fresno's putting up at least 14. just the nature of the way his games go. Not today, or not, I should say, not Friday. And okay. I'm starting to drink a little bit of the Kool-Aid that you have fully drank in the off season. Kevin Ivers: I've doused myself in Trojan's Kool-Aid. It tastes pretty good. you know, you still might need to add a a little bit of sugar to it. We'll see, but for now, it tastes pretty darn good. And I'm I'm all in, which is really, really weird for me to say about a Lincoln Riley team. But I believe it's time. I loved, I loved this shutout. It's everything you said. Lincoln Riley teams do not beat teams 39-0. Once again, this is versus a game Fresno State program, maybe kind of the boise state light of out west, always competitive. Fresno State doesn't lose games 39-0. Like they show up, and at worst, maybe it's a 45-20 type effort. This was impressive. The defense made a statement. Abasiri on the defensive line and Luke Wa Luke Wafel are absolute problems, as we touched on last time. These guys are different. They look different. By the way, the Waffle House in the crowd by the students lining up, you know, with the paint on their chest and everything. Phenomenal. That that's an easy one, but I'm glad they did it. This was a statement, victory. I know that sounds weird, but when you follow college football week in and week out, and you follow this Trojans program and you look at what they're doing with Lincoln Riley, this game mattered. You know, it's not about Jada Maiava, it's not about all the sexy toys and everything. USC always has this. So, loved it. Jada Mayava, his typical self. I might have them number two in my QB rankings after Trinidad Chain Bless. I love this guy that much. He's so incredibly efficient and smart. It would probably be between him and Dante Moore. I cannot wait for that USC Oregon game. That's going to be the first true real test coming up for the Trojans. Trent Mosley just built on the week one hype for him as a true freshman. Get to know the name, everybody. Trent Mosley. Looks like the real deal at receiver. So they answer the bell on a short week. They heard some of the criticism. Crowd showed up a little bit more in LA. It was a little cooler for those folks out there in La La Land. It was good to see the Coliseum more filled. And yeah, Southern Cal, two and with eyes on that ducks game. There's no doubt they're already watching film of that Boise game and getting ready for that huge showdown. So with that said, what do we got next, Eric? Are we doing our whip around already or was there another game? Erich: We could talk Rutgers UMass, but I I think we're gonna touch on them in one of our categories. So we'll we'll leave that takedown for then. so Kevin Ivers: Yeah. Erich: sorry, Schiano you're gonna have to wait a little bit for clearly a disaster of a situation going on there in in New York. let's go around the big ten here. so obviously let's start, you know, just a couple quick takes for each team. So Indiana, North Texas, Indiana wins 52 16. That is incredibly misleading for how that game actually went. I think you would be a fool to make any sort of proclamation about a Cignet coach team. But what you can say is, well, one, when's the last time Indiana's been out gained on offense? Period. other than maybe I don't think it happened last season. the year before, like one of their two losses one of their two or three losses, so like or two losses, Notre Dame or Ohio State, like outside of those games, I don't know where maybe that's even remotely occurred. They are out gained by North Texas. They were pushed around by North Texas at times. kudos to them to getting fifty-two points on the three hundred and sixty-five yards they got. That's really efficient. But did not look like the Indiana team we've seeing the last couple of years in terms of the way they play these lesser teams. So I'll stop there. Kevin Ivers: Yes, I am with you, Eric, on Indiana. 100%. This was misleading. It was 31-16. Hoosiers going into the fourth quarter. North Texas played with these guys a little bit. They were pushing them off the ball at times in the ground game. They they outgained them by two yards and North Texas. I they had about like a hundred yard advantage going into the fourth quarter. You know, Turbo Richard, I know he had multiple touchdowns, but 15 carries, 58 yards. That that's not a Cignetti team. I know some people will point to the old Dominion opener last year where they only won 27-14, but that was mislead misleading in the case that they put up over 500 yards in that game and had about a 200-yard advantage in that. game. So classic case of you can't watch box scores. And I really, really wonder, I know this is wild to say after a 52-16 win over North Texas, but that chip on the shoulder and that, you know, just Indiana breaking through and pulling off, you know, the biggest turnaround in college sports history and just all the momentum and feel that that that is hard to recreate. And so that's something I'm really gonna watch this year. moving into Penn State with our whip around series. Of course, this one had me very excited. It just was a terrific game one of the Matt Campbell era in every sense of the word. So impressed with how cohesive this group looked in game one. 45-0 over Marshall. Campbell brings in 24 transfers, of course, with him from Iowa State. That's been well documented and 40 in total. The way the defense flew around in this game, the way Penn State had exciting big splash plays on offense, with Rocco Becht and Kobe Howard becoming a star with 161 yards receiving. It's just what Penn Fate Penn State fans were hoping to see, and they got. So incredibly exciting. You know, Marshall's not a scrub in the G6 world. Of course, they have a lot of tradition in history. And this game was was over early. And it was all Penn State. So fantastic opener for Matt Campbell. and then the Big Ten Bully, Ohio State. What did you see out of them? Erich: Same old. We're gonna dominate. Dominated maybe a little bit more than I I I would have thought with the week one game, but national championship favorite pick for a lot of people and nothing, no reason for that to change at this point. So the SEC. A lot of cupcake battles. I'm gonna just list all of these here, Kevin, and you tell me which one you want to talk about. Arch Manning, Texas over Texas State. at least they're playing an FBS school. So kudos to them. 59-7. Tennessee beats Furman 56-9. Florida beats FAU 66-21. Boy, that one. Maybe you and I should have said Summerall over Golich in terms of when we were saying who's gonna potentially be better in their first year. or Mississippi State, Kamario Taylor, huge numbers over over ULM. any of those games stick out to you? Kevin Ivers: Yeah, a lot a lot there. You know, I guess we'll start with the obvious one. I I'm impressed with that Texas store score. D GJ Kinney at Texas State. They're a they're not a complete nobody either. You know, solid program. There's a reason, as loaded as Texas is, you know, you'd expect like, is that spread like forty-four or something like that? No, it was they were favored by twenty-nine and a half for a reason, 'cause Texas State can play a little ball. As we've seen these last couple years, a lot going on in that program. New stadium, a lot of money there. you know, they won by 52. The the receivers, the Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo is a problem for opponents. They had three touchdowns combined, multiple big play touchdowns. I think they combined for three touchdowns, so Texas looked pretty scary and Arch Manning seemed to be building off of how he finished last year. and then to touch on John Somerill, yeah, that's a rousing success. The swamp was happy. F Florida's all about scoring. That program wants to score. You know, they were spoiled with the Steve Spurger days and the old ball coach. And running it up on teams. So when they see six hundred and twenty-four yards, they don't even care that they gave up twenty-one to FAU. You know, Jaden Ball, underrated running back, probably top five in the country, doesn't get enough credit. and that's an always athletic FAU team as well. So Very, very good. And then I also shout out to Camario Taylor. I love that guy at Mississippi State. There's a highlight of him throwing like a 70-yard pass flat footed. He Erich: Crazy. Kevin Ivers: if you haven't seen that guy, check him out. He's a freak. I really like Jeff Levy. I've heard some of his, you know, there was a behind the scene things I was watching him one time. Just seems like a good dude. So would love to see them find success. What do you got? Anything in the Southeast Conference? Yeah. Erich: So, yeah, Florida fans were saying people need to give Jaden Bao more love in the off season. so far, week one, they're right, but it's a long season. We'll see. But again, still really impressed. Florida Atlantic is a team that has a lot of athletes. and and you know, maybe could have made that a a game, an in state game. And we saw the way some of those in state games looked last year during the Napier areas. you know, I I mean, I think it was week one last year. Is when was it week one or week two where Central Florida came in or you know, USF came in and you know, this was goalish and His team, they beat Florida. So nice to see them. I mean again, you and I want to see Florida. We want to see the Gator Chomp come back and we want them to be relevant. The SEC's in a better spot in terms of watchability when Florida's good. and I think you could Kevin Ivers: Yes. Erich: say the same thing for all the Florida teams. When the Florida teams are cooking, it adds a lot of excitement to college football. And then yeah, Mississippi State, Kevin Ivers: I also Erich: I'm really going to be excited to see them play some of the better teams in the SEC this year because I bet they clip one or two and ruin a couple teams season and could really see them get into seven or our eight wins this year. The Kevin Ivers: One of the we'd be remiss if we didn't mention I I know it's breaking our rule a little bit, but Faison Brandon, five star, solid debut for Josh Hipel. Not super high on them, but if he's what people say he is. g gives them a shot. So I wanted to give the Vols a little mention there before we roll into kind of a a meshed Big 12 ACC whip around. So what what sticks out here? I there's there's definitely one sticks out to me. jeez. Erich: Yeah. your well we'll we'll get to maybe your Oklahoma State pick more and what I was wrong about category here in a little bit. I think for me what a common theme was that s boy, there was a lot of teams that were really underwhelming. And Texas Tech being one of those. It's one week, but beating ACU thirty three to ten. That that was I I mean, I don't know where Texas Tech goes from there, but I don't see how you could claim them to be the top dog in that conference right now. from what some of the other teams in that conference did against equally low level competition. you know, you look just look at BYU decimating my local Utah Tech in their game. so that one yeah, we got We we posted on here Texas Tech 33 ACU 10, Tulsa 24, Oklahoma State 10. I'll let you address that in a second. Duke 17 versus Tulane three. or and then maybe, you know, again, we don't want to talk a lot about the FCS games, but Virginia Tech hangs 73 to 3 over any team. It's been a while since we've seen that. So I think kudos to James Franklin. The last thing I'll say about these two conferences, kudos to James Franklin for giving Vot Tech fans some like Just some gumption and something to cheer about for a little bit because it's it's been a minute for those incredible fans to have something like that. And you and I like James Franklin as a whole. We, you know, like the stability he brought to Penn State. And yeah, I didn't quite get over the hump there. But, you know, national semifinals, he'll be remembered for that, I think, once the departure year fades away. And good start for him at Vot Tech. But yeah, I think the story has to be Oklahoma State. It could have been worse. I mean, the refs tried to help Oklahoma State as much as they could. Anytime there was a big chunk play from Tulsa, flag calling it back. And so Oklahoma State got all the breaks and still got dominated twenty-four-tent. So misleading score, that could have been thirty-five, forty-two, ten. the way that's how dominant Tulsa was over Oklahoma State. Kevin Ivers: The dream of Oklahoma State going from 1-11 to the Big 12 championship game, as Erich: Ha ha ha. Kevin Ivers: yours truly predicted, may have died in week one in Tulsa, Oklahoma. which is sad. There was so much belief there. Had the folks in Stillwater believe in. What was that? I don't know. Eric Morse needs to answer those questions this week in Stillwater. Drew Mestermaker did not look like the stud that he is. They looked bad. They got outclock outclassed to your point with those penalties called on the golden hurricane. I mean, Trey Lamb, Tulsa's head coach, has flat outset it in the press conference. He's like, yeah, this could have been way worse. Should have won 31-10. Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: 37-10. I liked that. So he was feeling himself after the game, rightfully so. The the little guy in the state takes out the big guy. So hopefully the Pokes can respond. Maybe there's still a run to the Big 12. This was a non-conference game, remember. So we just yeah, we just flush that one and and move along. But that that has the article I wrote about Oklahoma State. Has me looking not so smart there. So we'll stay in the Big 12. I'm with you. Abiline Chr Abilene Christian only losing 3310 to Texas Tech. Not a great look for the Red Raiders. They were 44-point favorites in this one. They settled for way too many field goals. Will Hammond's numbers looked okay, but you know, recovering from an ACL, sometimes that looks easy. Maybe he's not fully recovered. I just think that's a A totally different situation. And the way they hit on the portal last year, we touched on, you know, can you strike gold every year? You know, the old saying, money can't buy everything. You know, sometimes it does in this new era, but you gotta hit on the right players. And I didn't quite see that. And it's part of the reason I don't have Texas Tech winning the Big 12 this year. So we'll see, long way to go, but not a great start in Lubbock. You mentioned James Franklin. Everything you said is true. I will say VMI, which stands for Virg Virginia Military Institute, might have been the worst team I've ever seen on my TV screen in my life. Erich: Yeah. Kevin Ivers: I mean, there was just Virginia Tech guys just catching a ball and looking like they're playing a a high school team. Erich: Couple good ones in the group of six. So we had I would say a rebound slash response. you and I wondered how UNLV would rebound flying all the way over to Hawaii and going up against a potentially really, really effective passing attack. They win twenty one six. And then the other team that they lost to the prior week, how is Memphis going to look traveling back home? And you know, favored by, you know, almost eleven points now against Arkans Arkansas State. And they passed that test as well, 42-24. so I'm just gonna say kudos to UNLV for rebounding. And then the only thing I'm gonna say is I think you have to say Memphis right now is either one A or one B in terms of the in fact I'm gonna say they're one A for the group of six playoff favorite at this point. Kevin Ivers: my gosh, yes. What what a win. Sneaky good win. Arkansas State's a solid program. Old Butch Jones there. That's a name. he's been there for quite a while now, but it sets up the monster showdown in the group of six this weekend, which we'll of course preview this week versus Boise State. Cannot wait for that game. Erich: Great game. Kevin Ivers: You know, there was a bit of a hangover as expected. These are college kids. But they found their way, pulled away in the second half. Marcus Stokes didn't have a big game, but you know, Memphis continues to to lean on that running game Stokes didn't have a a big game, but Jalen Carter at running back carried the day. Huge 70 some yard run to kind of put that away in the fourth quarter, and they pulled away convincingly, like you said, and then impressed with UNLV. Like, season on the line, you have to win this game if you have any chance of the playoffs. You fly out to the islands. Michael Alejado for Hawaii can cause some troubles, and they've limited them to six points. So kuda kudos to Dan Mullen and UNLV responding, but Yeah, fun, fun boisey Memphis game on tap. I'm fired up. Erich: Well, let's move to our categories. Most impressive team. Kevin, who's your most impressive team of week one? Kevin Ivers: Going to LSU here, how Lane Kiffin had those kids ready to play amongst all the drama and everything swirling there. It was incredible. How about you, Eric? Erich: Quite the spectacle Easy one to pick. I am going to go Ole Miss. I think they got a real challenge, a real punch in the mouth, and they needed to win this game. and boy, I hope I can't wait in a couple weeks for the two teams we just named to square off at Ole Miss going to be quite dyspectacle. Let's go to the other side of this coin. Our letdown. of the week and I'm gonna go first this time. I think there's a lot of choices here. And we kind of just alluded to one there a second ago. But I think the obvious choice here is Rutgers. I know we could have talked about them as a a game category. But boy, what a letdown. Ciano's gotta be on the hot seat. I mean if they lose at Boston College this week, does he make it to week three? losing to UMass and and who knows. I I think you can also two things can be true here. UMass is probably better than they've been in a long time, but you gotta go with the team that paid the other team one point five million dollars to lose. Rutgers letdown of the week for me. Kevin Ivers: Totally fair. Not sure they should even be in the big ten. It's it Erich: Ha ha ha. Kevin Ivers: it it's actually fair to say at this point. Mine, very obvious. The Michigan Wolverines. I just can't believe how they looked under a Kyle Whittingham team. I don't think he forgot how to coach overnight. That's just so bizarre how bad they looked. And Oklahoma's coming into town next week. Things have to turn in a really, really quick way in Ann Arbor. we got player of the week next week. Lots of choices here, of course. What do you got, Eric? Erich: Trinidad Chambless, easy choice. Just love watching this guy. Probably, especially if you figure factor in who they played, this you know, neutral field, the importance of this game for them for their season. Easy choice. Great game. Over three yard passing, three touchdowns, like winning game, winning drive. He's a baller, he's dynamic. We'll probably talk about him. Most weeks as we go through this season. Kevin Ivers: hundred percent could might rack up a lot of player of the weeks. I'm going with a kid here in a loss. In the same game, touched on Miller. I just I loved Lincoln Keenholz and that performance, the Ohio State transfer, threw for over 300 yards, ran for another 69, accounted for three touchdowns, led his team back late by 14 when it looked like Ole Miss might pull away. I thought he showed grit leadership. Louisville has a a really good quarterback, it appears. That kid was fun to watch. That was the QB duel of the week, and I think both those kids deserved. Player of the week. Erich: Fully agreed. All right, so now it's time for us to eat crow, if you will. where we were right and wrong, Kevin. I'm gonna go first. And boy, does it feel like I was more wrong than I was right this week. I said Clemson's gonna win. Don't buy the narratives, folks. Don't buy the past The past is dead. Kill it. Dabo is not who he used to be, and take that as a lesson as you make your predictions. I thought Iowa might not cover their 30-point spread over northern Illinois, though I did say that. They could score forty or forty two if they wanted to. And they decided with the latter to score forty. Northwestern getting upset. I was wrong about that. Colorado, I was wrong about that. where I was right this week was my choice of of Ole Miss over Louisville. Kevin, how about you? Kevin Ivers: Yeah, and you you had mentioned Colorado earlier, Eric, that you know, from Thursday when this weekend got started. Totally wrong about that one. One of those things where the odds makers, I think, just didn't look into it very well and we got fooled and Georgia Tech was better last year and Colorado clearly looked like they had more talent and and Georgia Tech severely misses Haynes King, which we did mention that. And Buster Fault Faulkner, their OC going to Florida. So but we just thought they'd have enough. But kudos to Colorado. But I still put them like UNC where I don't think it's still gonna really matter big big picture for those programs this year. Also wrong about Auburn. I had them winning big over Baylor. Obviously that was wrong. Came down to two-point conversion. Still am high on the Tigers and Alex Golish in rear one. We'll see. Oklahoma State, I mean heck, I wrote an article about it this week. D Erich: Ha ha ha. Kevin Ivers: I normally would say check it out. Don't check it out. Yeah. You know, I guess they could still get to the Big Twelve Championship game, but when you're getting dominated by Tulsa, that doesn't elicit a lot of strong belief there for me. Things I was right on. I I did feel pretty good about LSU, had them in the playoff. Certainly didn't expect that type of victory, but I I'll take that. And then just of course back to USC, believing in their new defense and and what their defensive line and physicality can be this year. I think they're starting to answer those questions slowly. So hopefully a little better for us on what we have right in the in the coming week. It i it is week one, so give us a little bit of grace here. It's it's it's hard when you haven't seen these teams. Erich: Yeah, I I won't count on it when you try to be a predictor of outcomes. You're gonna get more wrong than you get right, unfortunately, especially in college football. Okay, final category. Who's up, who's down, as many as you want. I'm I'm not gonna spend a lot of time going through each team. I'm just gonna list them. So I got Ole Miss up, I got Colorado up, and I'm got Oklahoma on the up. Kind of going with some ones that maybe we didn't talk about a ton yet, although we did talk about Ole Miss. really like what I saw from those teams. And then on the downside, Michigan Rutgers. And I'm throwing Indiana on. I'm down on them a little bit, just in terms of what we saw and what we talked about earlier. How about you? Kevin Ivers: we'll start down here first. Clearly Michigan already touched on that. And like you said, with Oklahoma coming into town, that that's not good to be down. I'm with you on Indiana. We spend some time talking about that. I just feel things are different, and there was some red flags that came out of that game. We'll see how they look. I mean gosh, and with Indiana, the that schedule is pitiful. Pitiful. Until week seven versus Ohio State. So we really, really won't know. There's gonna be a lot of speculating. and then the third one, Clemson, obviously down, and then up. Louisville in a loss. Can tell I'm clearly high on them. Love how they played. LSU, of course, up. And then USC responding with that defense. So those are mine. Erich: I love it. That's it. That's the week one recap. One more game tonight, technically for week one. Should hopefully will be a good one. we'll see what happens there. And then we will be back sometime midweek for our week two. Almost sad to say week two already, given how limited of a window of time we have to enjoy these games. But we'll be back for our week two preview midweek. Thanks guys for watching. College Football Nobodies