Everyone is Bad
That Florida-Miami game was so atrocious it made Andrew Luck quit football altogether. Miami QB Jarren Williams was sacked ten times. Both defenses looked… fine. There were a ton of mistakes in this game. Despite their best efforts, Florida won.
Getting a win against a rival is never a bad thing. But the Gators have a ton to straighten out as SEC play looms. Miami’s offensive line was putrid. Starting your first collegiate game against a defense as good as Florida’s is a tall order. Jarren Williams didn’t get any help from his offensive line.
Feleipe Franks was pretty pedestrian. If the Gators want to be SEC contenders he has to be more consistent, plain & simple. He had a couple of really good moments. The issue is he had probably just as many really bad ones as well. Yuck.
The game checked in with a 4.1 overnight rating. Now this sentence meant absolutely nothing to me until I saw some nerd on twitter say that’s the best rating for a college football game on ESPN since 2016. Regardless of how bad both teams played, they were playing. People are just excited to have college football back.
It was the perfect primer for next week.
Hawaii Hype Train
Usually, you have to wait till December to see Arizona get bombed in Hawaii. The Rainbow Warriors lost the turnover battle 6-2 and won the game by seven. I’m beginning to think that Kevin Sumlin just isn’t cut out for this head coaching thing.
Khalil Tate almost made the biggest play of the year on a long scramble to the doorstep before he was stopped short of the TD that could have sent this to OT. Tate kept them in this game.
For the second year in a row, Arizona is 0-1 after letting a very winnable game slip away. It could be another long year in Tucson. The Kevin Sumlin experiment is simply not working.
Overtime
ESPN highlights still suck
College Football Final used to be arguably the best part of the Saturday experience. Now I get three plays-worth of highlights and a whole lot of words that really mean nothing to me.
We’re going to get Tate Martell
The guy is going to play. Jarren Williams actually had a pretty good game, all things considered. But if the O-line doesn’t improve, he’s not going to stay healthy. Furthermore, Miami might need a little more mobility at QB if they can’t consistently create a pocket. I think we’ll certainly see Martell take snaps as the season progresses.
Also, we’ll see if he decides to close up shop and announce yet another transfer, my dude.
Villanova off to Another Hot Start
Thrashed Colgate 34-14. The Wildcats are now 33-4 against Patriot League teams. That’s pretty remarkable, honestly. They’re ranked ninth, just demolished the thirteenth-ranked team in the nation and the rest of their schedule sets up pretty nicely. This is definitely going to be a fun group to watch this season. They’ve been 5-6 the last two seasons, but this could be their breakout year. Consider me a fan.
Campbell University transfer Daniel Smith chucked three touchdowns in the second quarter, he had four total. Do whatever you’d like with that information.
Fun Fax
College football has begun its 150th season. In 1869 America was a far different place.
Ulysses S. Grant was the president.
Purdue University was founded.
The Golden Spike was driven, marking the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad.
The Cincinnati Red Stockings played their inaugural season as America’s first professional baseball team.
Jesse James committed his first bank robbery.
That’s a pretty eventful year. It’s crazy to think just how old of an institution college football really is. It’s a pastime that has stood the test of time. In my opinion, it is the quintessential sporting experience in America.