This has turned into a weekly thing at this point. My favorite thing about college football is the variety that it offers. All sorts of cool stuff happens in this sport. Without further delay, here’s your week Three AAR. What’s that? Oh yeah, sorry. I’ll have a whopper and a small fry, thank you.
This is where things start to get a little weird. We’re still figuring out who we are at this point. Is 2-0 Michigan State good? Just how good is Alabama? Hey, Illinois is 2-0! They look fun!
Nobody can really be trending up or down yet, there’s only been two weeks of games. Some people are simply good. Some are bad. The rest are just starting to figure out how above or below average they are.
Wake Forest & Virginia
These are two pretty good football teams. It feels weird to say this, but they won close games over lesser competition. In conference play (kindof) this is pretty good and I feel confident when I say that both of these teams are better than their respective competition this weekend.
The Demon Deacons jumped out to a big lead against Chapel Hill and almost pissed it away. But they didn’t, and now they’re 3-0 and 1-0 in the ACC!
Except they’re not. That game doesn’t count towards conference standings. UNC and Wake weren’t scheduled to play anytime too soon so they agreed to play each other outside of league play. That’s very weird. After a Friday night full of controversy, they can safely say that they’re undefeated, so far.
Virginia held on against FSU! Despite their best efforts, the Hoos held Florida State just shy of the goal line in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter. Virginia is also undefeated.
I’m gonna say it, the ACC sucks. But I like both Virginia and Wake Forest so far. They’re playing pretty solid football and have avoided early losses. That’s plenty of momentum for the back 3/4 of the schedule. It’s Clemson’s conference to lose, but weird things happen in this sport.
Also, Bryce Perkins is badass.
Bryce Perkins 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/3TcQx3cT7j
— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) September 15, 2019
Kansas State is Good
I picked Kansas State to roll into Starkvegas and win a close game and they did just that. Unfortunately, work kept me away from the TV, but it looked like a fun game! The Wildcats have plenty of winnable games left on the schedule coupled with the fact that they’re pretty damn good.
This game also featured the greatest helicopter of all time. It’s up to you to decide what that term means to you.
Miss St's QB with the greatest altitude on a helicopter spin of all time pic.twitter.com/TI0NMQxS3P
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) September 14, 2019
I Slept on Iowa State
They lost El Assico in horrific fashion, but I thought they played a pretty good game against a very good Iowa team. Brock Purdy looked like he was going to lead the Cyclones to a win in the fourth quarter. But Iowa made the plays they needed to make when they needed to make them.
It’s easy to forget, but Iowa State almost picked off Nate Stanley in the end zone late. The ball hit the turf, and Iowa kicked the go-ahead field goal not long after. They wouldn’t relinquish that lead.
I think in a few weeks we’ll look back at this as a very good win for Iowa.
Kentucky…
has now outplayed Florida in each of the last three meetings. They’re 1-2. Losing Terry Wilson for the season was a huge blow, but this might be the game that becomes the turning point in their season. And not in a good way.
They had a top-10 team on the ropes. They were up 21-10. Then Feliepe Franks went down. Kyle Trask came on to replace the injured Franks and Florida scored the final twelve points, winning 22-21.
Now, the Wildcats had a chance to kick a go-ahead field goal late. That sailed wide right. Chance Poore is such an unfortunate name for a kicker.
Random Things
Michigan State managed just seven points on a little over 400 yards. The good news is that MSU’s defense is at its absolute best when they know they won’t get any help.
Michigan State held its opponent to 216 total yards and 4.2 yards per play, and lost at home. pic.twitter.com/jNJcxRaX2U
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) September 14, 2019
BYU might just be good. I’ve got no idea.
Ohio State is very good. That defense is legit this year.
Tulane is my dark horse in the AAC.
South Carolina intrigues me. I really like Ryan Hilinski.
Fun Fax
Arizona State scored a total of 26 points in their last two meetings with the Spartans. They are 2-0.
Jeff Brohm makes $3.8 million coaching football for Purdue.
Eastern Michigan has beaten a Power Five team in each of the last three seasons. Illinois was their victim today.
BYU is 2-0 in overtime games this year. They’ve beaten Tennessee and USC.
UCLA sucks. That’s a fact.