We are in week 2 of the college football season and we already have story lines being formed.
The SEC has 3 teams ranked in the top 4
#1 Clemson
#2 Alabama
#3 Georgia
#4 LSU
5 Things We Learned About Week 2:
5) Say hello to Mac Brown:
After 5 years away from college football, Mac Brown returned to the sidelines. His North Carolina Tar Heels are now 2-0 after defeating the Miami Hurricanes 28-25. The Hurricanes are now 0-2 for he first time since 1978. Brown is 68-years old but he is acting like a young coach and his players love it.
Over the next two weeks, Carolina plays Wake Forest and Appalachian State. Both games will be tough, but Brown could be 4-0 when they host the Clemson Tigers on September 28th.
4) Scott Frost and Nebraska take a step back:
Nebraska was up 17-0 at halftime and go outscored 34-14 in the 2nd half of the this game and overtime. Nebraska is a young team who is trying to learn how to win under Scott Frost. This was a total collapse in the 2nd half. Players, coaches and the entire Nebraska football family has to look in the mirror and reevaluate what they did in the last 15 minutes of this game. Frost will turn this team around but it is taking time.
3) If you don’t know about Maryland football now you do:
Maryland defeated Howard in the first week of the season 79-0. On Saturday they hosted the #21 Syracuse Orangemen and won 63-20. They have scored 142 points in two weeks. That is more than most college basketball teams. Maryland’s coach, Michael Locksley has a career record of 5-31 including a 2-26 record at New Mexico. In 2018, he was the offensive coordinator for Nick Saban and Alabama. I don’t know who thought hiring a coach who has had a history of losing would be a good idea but it worked. The Terrapins should win 8 or more games this season and make it to a bowl game. This is a great example of a coach getting a second chance at redemption.
2) UCF deserves a top 10 Ranking:
The Knights are ranked 17th in the nation and this is a disgrace to anyone who has a vote. UCF was 13-0 in 2017, 12-1 in 2018, and 2-0 this season. The Knights have the longest streak in AP poll history. They have scored at least 30 points in 28 games. It is time for the national media to give UCF the credit they deserve.
1) This is not the same old LSU Tigers:
For years, I have watched the LSU Tigers have an elite defense and great wide receivers (Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry). Despite having all that talent, LSU’s quarterbacks struggled most of the time. All that has changed this year. #6 LSU defeated #9 Texas on the road, 45-38. Joe Burrow was 31-39, threw for 471 yards and had 4 touchdown passes. Texas didn’t adapt or change their defensive game plan at all. Burrow took advantage of the Longhorns one on one coverage and the Tigers receivers dominated the game. Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Terrance Marshall Jr. all had over 100 receiving yards. LSU can now win with offense and not have to rely on their defense to be perfect. LSU is a legitimate contender for the SEC title and a national championship.
Bonus Coverage:
Clemson defeated #12 Texas A&M 24-10. Clemson has a target on their back but they keep responding with wins. Their defense lost a ton of players to the NFL and they still held Jimbo Fisher’s team to 10 points.
Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts could win the Heisman Trophy. If he does, it will be the 3rd year in a row an Oklahoma quarterback has won that award. Lincoln Riley will be the next sought after NFL coach.
Oregon scored 77 points against Nevada in their home opener. Despite losing to Auburn in week 1, The Ducks could win the Pac-12 title and find themselves in the hunt for a final four playoff birth.
#7 Michigan survived a scare against Army. The Wolverines won 24-21 at home, in overtime. This is not what the Michigan faithful expected at the start of the season.
Florida State needed overtime to beat UL-Monroe 45-44. Fire Willie is already trending on Twitter. Willie Taggert is destroying FSU.
Tennessee is 0-2 for the first time since 1988. This program is an absolute disgrace. They continue to find ways to lose games they should win. Can anyone say Urban Meyer?
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