This was a good day for college football, the best day it has had on the field in quite some time.
The little guy punched well above his weight class. Everyone’s national championship favorite showed warts and was fortunate to survive. Three top-10 teams went down.
So much of the narrative when it comes to the sport is the uneven playing field, that so few teams really have a legitimate chance to win it all. That will change soon, now that the College Football Playoff has agreed to expand to 12 teams, possibly as early as next year. Saturday potentially proved that maybe when expansion does arrive, we can get a real Cinderella, like college basketball gives us every March.
Marshall, a 20.5-point underdog out of the Sun Belt Conference, knocked off Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. Appalachian State, also of the Sun Belt, upended Texas A&M, a 17.5-point favorite who was supposed to be Alabama’s biggest threat in the SEC West. The Mountaineers were given $1.5 million just to make the trip, which quickly became a known fact on Twitter, and they will now host ESPN’s “College GameDay” next Saturday after more than doubling up the Aggies in time of possession and first downs.
Those stunning results came after the powerful Crimson Tide narrowly escaped Texas with a one-point victory, Nick Saban’s juggernaut of Bryce Young, Will Anderson Jr. and Co. needing a questionable call on what should’ve been a safety and a missed 20-yard field goal to survive. Texas, really, was the better team — certainly more physical and more disciplined — and likely wins going away if quarterback Quinn Ewers, so impressive in his first two drives, doesn’t suffer a left clavicle sprain in the opening quarter.
Marshall delivered a stunning upset over Notre Dame. AP
Appalachian State players celebrate after their win over Texas A&M.Getty ImagesThe drama didn’t end there. Oklahoma toyed with joining Notre Dame and Texas A&M, blanked by Kent State for nearly a half before pulling away. Georgia Southern, another Sun Belt school, knocked off Nebraska, the final straw for fired Cornhuskers coach Scott Frost, and Georgia State lost by just a touchdown to North Carolina. BYU, down two of its best receivers, toppled Big 12 preseason-favorite Baylor in overtime deep into the night, a win that if coupled with victories later in the season at Notre Dame and against Arkansas, would give the independent Cougars an outside shot at the playoff.
This, of course, doesn’t mean that we’re going to see a new group of teams in this year’s playoff. Alabama will almost certainly right itself, its talent too vast and coaching too good not to. Georgia, Ohio State and Michigan cruised on Saturday. So did USC and Clemson. But for one day, college football was unpredictable and very fun. There were big upsets and stunning results.
The little guy rose up and humbled the bully on a few occasions. Maybe that happens on the big stage in a few years once expansion arrives. It certainly seemed possible on this memorable day.
Georgia Southern players celebrate after scoring against Nebraska. Getty ImagesPoor reception
Before Jameson Williams and John Metchie III there was DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III came before them, and they were preceded by Calvin Ridley and Amari Cooper. You have to go all the way back to 2011 for the last time Alabama lacked a game-breaking wide receiver. But early on, the Crimson Tide don’t seem to have that kind of weapon. Their best receiver on Saturday was running back Jahmyr Gibbs.
While Alabama’s offensive line struggled against Texas, the inability of its receivers to make big plays down the field and create separation was a major factor in the offensive struggles. Quarterback Bryce Young made a few plays with his legs to open up the middle of the field and eventually took the game over in the fourth quarter, but this is an issue worth monitoring.
Fisher price
The game of the week, Miami’s visit to College Station to face Texas A&M, is even more interesting now after the Aggies no-showed their buy game against Appalachian State. A 1-2 start would begin to create some real issues for Jimbo Fisher, who aside from a few big stand-alone wins, has yet to have a breakthrough season. He hasn’t won more than nine games in a single season so far, and hasn’t made it through September undefeated since arriving at Texas A&M on that blockbuster 10-year, $75 million contract. Lose at home to Miami, undefeated early on in Mario Cristobal’s first season but unproven, and there could be some real heat on Fisher.
Top 10
1. Georgia (2-0) (Last week: 2)
The Dawgs’ defense has allowed three points in two blowout victories, although it’s hard to take away much from Saturday’s shutout of overwhelmed FCS foe Samford.
2. Alabama (2-0) (1)
Nick Saban won’t have to worry about “rat poison,” his phrase for praise from the media, this week. Not after heavy-favorite Alabama was fortunate to escape Texas with a one-point win that was aided by a botched safety call and a missed chip-shot field goal.
3. Ohio State (2-0) (3)
Marvin Harrison Jr. now finds himself in select company as one of two Ohio State receivers (Joey Galloway is the other) to have a pair of three-touchdown receiving games in his career. And he’s a sophomore.
Marvin Harrison Jr. catches a touchdown pass during Ohio State’s win over Arkansas. Aaron Josefczyk/UPI/Shutterstock4. Clemson (2-0) (5)
We’ll begin to get a real read on Clemson on Sept. 24 when it visits Wake Forest and stud quarterback Sam Hartman, who returned after missing the opener due to a medical issue. Until then, the Tigers are just beating up on patsies.
5. Michigan (2-0) (6)
The Wolverines’ non-conference schedule started with Colorado State, continued Saturday against Hawaii and closes next weekend against UConn. Jim Harbaugh must be a big cupcake guy.
6. USC (2-0) (8)
The Lincoln Riley era already feels different two games into his first season. The Trojans last won at Stanford by such a lopsided result as Saturday’s 41-28 win in 2008.
Lincoln RileyAP7. Oklahoma (2-0) (9)
After flirting with disaster for a half, the Sooners made sure they wouldn’t follow the example set by Notre Dame and Texas A&M, overwhelming Kent State the rest of the way.
8. Arkansas (2-0) (NR)
The balanced Razorbacks could be a sleeper in the SEC West. Texas A&M and Alabama, the projected favorites in the rugged division, have problems Arkansas can expose.
9. Oklahoma State (2-0) (NR)
The Cowboys’ defense bounced back after an ugly opener and the offense produced its second straight strong showing in manhandling Arizona State in Stillwater.
10. Miami (2-0) (NR)
Miami has beaten its two opponents, Bethune-Cookman and Southern Miss, by a combined score of 100-20. Those lopsided results were the warm-up act for the real season, starting with a trip to Texas A&M next week.
Dropped out: Notre Dame (0-2), Baylor (1-1) and Texas A&M (1-1)
Heisman Watch (in alphabetical order)
QB Stetson Bennett IV, Georgia
That’s now two 300-yard passing games — the third and fourth of his career — for Bennett to start what is looking like a memorable final season in Athens for the former walk-on.
Stetson BennettGetty ImagesQB Sam Hartman, Wake Forest
A preseason contender before an undisclosed health issue sidelined him, Hartman made his debut on Saturday and reminded everyone what all the hype was about. He threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns in a rout of Vanderbilt, and gets a crack at Clemson in two weeks.
QB C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Without two of his top three receivers for the majority of the season so far, the sophomore has still thrown for 574 yards and six touchdowns while completing 68.9 percent of his passes. That’s impressive against any opponent.
QB Caleb Williams, USC
Williams introduced himself to the Pac-12 with force, destroying USC rival Stanford to the tune of 341 yards through the air and four touchdowns.
QB Bryce Young, Alabama
With the game on the line, Young took charge. He carried the Crimson Tide to victory, completing 15 of 19 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown in a brilliant fourth quarter that wiped away a forgettable first three quarters for last year’s Heisman Trophy winner.
