After Michigan managed to get blown out by Division 1-AA Appalachian State 34-32 last week in their home opener before 110,000 fans watching at the Big House in Ann Arbor, the Oregon Ducks traveled to the Big House and they gave the once mighty Wolverines their worst. defeat since 1968, a 39-7 thrashing.
The 32-point margin of loss was Michigan’s worst since losing 50-14 at Ohio State in 1968, 39 years ago. Last year, the Wolverines were riding high with an 11-0 start before losing to Ohio State for the third straight year and then losing the Rose Bowl for the third time in four years.
Michigan’s porous secondary allowed Oregon’s Dennis Dixon to rack up a career-high 292 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. The Ducks did even better on the ground, gaining 331 rushing yards on 51 carries for a 6.49-yard average. In essence, Michigan had no defense, just excuses for a poor performance.
The 0-2 start gave notice that Michigan has some serious problems as a national powerhouse this year. Maybe it would help to request to play on another planet. The Wolverines could battle their third lineup and maybe get their first win of the season.
Fortunately for Michigan, neither of the two losses were Big 10 Conference games. Take heart Michigan lovers, the Wolverines started 0-2 in 1998 and went on to become the Big 10 Champion. They also started 0-2 in 1988 and ended up beating USC 22-14 in the Rose Bowl.
The troubles at Notre Dame continued this week, as 14th-ranked Penn State had little trouble dispatching the Irish, 31-10.
To understand how good the Nittany Lions defense is right now, you just need to know that they haven’t allowed an offensive touchdown in two games. Notre Dame has failed to score an offensive touchdown in its second straight game. Another powerhouse that failed to do so this week was No. 11 Georgia, which was beaten at home by South Carolina 16-12. Georgia couldn’t even score a touchdown on the South Carolina defense.
No need to remind the SEC that Steve Spurrier is now coaching the Gamecocks. Spurrier’s best play as a college football coach is to win. Late on Saturday, No. 17-ranked Auburn was defeated by South Florida 26-23 in overtime. That had to be a real letdown for Auburn, who not only lost, but lost at home.
South Florida isn’t exactly a household name in college football. The Bulls have only been playing football for 10 years and only became a Division IA school in 2001.
Many fans are unaware that coach Jim Leavitt turned down the opportunity to coach in Alabama in 2003 to stay in South Florida. The Bulls have won their last 4 games, including an upset against No. 7 West Virginia and a bowl win in their last 2 games last season.
South Florida is now 4-0 in its last 4 games.
Auburn shouldn’t be ashamed of their loss, but they certainly should be shocked.
Here are 8 stinkers that came up during the second week of play:
No. 5 Wisconsin trailed 10-9 going into the 4th quarter before winning its road game at UNLV, 20-13. How tough is Wisconsin as the No. 5 team in the country? It’s up to you.
No. 8 Louisville’s defense was unimpressive as it gave up 42 points to Middle Tennessee before pulling off a 58-42 victory.
Number 10 California allowed 4 touchdowns against winless Colorado State before winning 34-28.
No. 12 Ohio State used a 17-point second half to move past Akron 20-2. It was hardly a display of offensive power by the Buckeyes, as Akron led 3-2 in the middle of what could have been a football game.
No. 13 UCLA was very busy with Brigham Young (BYU) but finally scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter to win by 10, 27-17.
No. 16 Nebraska was lucky to pick up its second win over Wake Forest, 20-17. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
No. 20 Hawaii just beat Louisiana Tech in a road game, 45-44. Hawaii is not exactly the best visiting team in the NCAA and they have shown it again. All this talk about Hawaii being really good seems to be more talk than defense.
No. 23 Texas A&M gave up 45 points to Fresno State before winning just in overtime 47-45 (Fresno State scored 16 points in triple overtime before the Aggies won).
The Stinky 8 are ranked higher than they should be, and the next few weeks will tell the real story.
Here are 3 fanny kickers that kept racking up big wins:
No. 4 Florida led 49-7 before beating Troy 59-31. Apparently many backups played for Florida.
No. 6 Oklahoma had no trouble with Miami (FL) 51-13, scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter to seal the deal.
No. 21 Georgia Tech led 62-7 before finishing off AA Samford, 69-14.
Here are 8 teams on the rise:
No. 15 Rutgers earned their second win by defeating Navy 41-24.
No. 25 Clemson scored 6 touchdowns in 3 quarters to beat Louisiana-Monroe 49-26. Last week, Clemson defeated Florida State 24-18 to move into the Top 25.
Unranked Washington used defense to defeat No. 22 Boise State and its 14-game winning streak, the longest in major college football, by shutting out the Broncos in the second half of the Huskies’ 24-game victory. -10. Last week, the Huskies beat Syracuse 42-12 in a road opener. Kansas earned its second win by shutting out AA Southeastern Louisiana 62-0. Last week, the Jayhawks defeated Central Michigan 52-7. Total points for Kansas in two games: 114. Total points for opponent in two games: 7.
Three first-year coaches, Nick Saban, Mark Dantonio, and Dennis Erickson, all won their second straight game.
The Crimson Tide defeated Vanderbilt 24-10, giving Saban another victory. So far, Saban is undefeated at Alabama. Next up: Arkansas comes to town. Can Saban go 3-0? We will wait and see. The Spartans outscored Bowling Green 28-17 in a not-so-impressive home win, giving Dantonio another win. So far, Dantonio is undefeated at Michigan State. Next up: Pittsburgh is coming to town. Can Dantonio go 3-0? They have a good chance.
The Sun Devils defeated Colorado 33-14, giving Erickson another victory. So far, Erickson is undefeated at Arizona State. Next up: San Diego State comes to town. Can Erickson go 3-0? Absolutely. The latest team on the rise is Cincinnati, yes Cincinnati. The Bearcats defeated Oregon State 34-3 for their second straight win after beating AA Southeastern Missouri State 59-3 last week. Cincinnati has outscored its first two opponents 93-6.
In-state rivalries can close, and this week was no exception, as a field goal decided two games: East Carolina beat North Carolina 34-31, and AA Southern Illinois topped Northern Illinois by the same score.
In other state rivalries, New Mexico defeated New Mexico State 44-34 with a fourth quarter touchdown, Arizona defeated AA Northern Arizona 45-24, Texas Tech defeated UTEP 45-31 (UTEP led at the half 28- 17), No. 3 West Virginia defeated Marshall 48-23, Illinois shutout AA Western Illinois 21-0, AA Northern Iowa defeated Iowa State 24-13, Baylor doubled down on Rice 42-17, No. 7 Texas pitched a comeback to beat No. 19 TCU 34-13 (TCU led 10-0 at the half) and Southern Methodist beat North Texas 45-31.
In a dark battle hardly noticed by anyone between 2 of the 7 worst A teams in the country, Buffalo (ranked 145 by Sagarin) made a statement by evening Temple 42-7 (ranked 143 by Sagarin and already falling). Buffalo scored no less than 6 touchdowns; it must have been a glorious day in uptown New York. In another dark contest, Wyoming won at home against Utah State, 32-18. Like it or not, more often than not, the Cowboys win at home, and they don’t ask what’s for dinner, they just expect meat.
So after the first two weeks of the college football season, who’s off to the most impressive start? The #2 ranked LSU Tigers, who damaged Virginia Tech 48-7. Attempt 6 touchdowns against the number 9 nationally ranked team. LSU beat Mississippi State 45-0 last week. Coach Les Miles’ Tigers have outscored their first two opponents 93-7.
Middle Tennessee, which was rated No. 141 by Sagarin after the first week, comes to Baton Rouge this week. The Blue Raiders, losers in their first two games, could have a very long afternoon at LSU.
Copyright © 2007 Ed Bagley