The first week of the college football season technically started a week ago, but Saturday was the first full day of work across the country. With regional rivalries producing some of the best results this weekend, the full debut marks a refreshing change from a long chapter filled with off-field titles.
Old Dominion shocked Virginia Tech 20-17 in Brent Pry’s debut On Friday night. Then, in Saturday’s match dubbed the biggest home game in its history, Appalachian State gave North Carolina All he can handle before Fall 63-61 On a failed two-point conversion. UTSAThe two-point conversion also failed to lose 37-35 times overtime to No. 24 Houston In front of a crowded house, just days after Cougars coach Dana Holgursen accused Roadrunners of pumping crowd noises into the Alamodome. finally, East Carolina missed an extra point And the field goal for lose heart breaker 21-20 to number 13 North Carolina.
Of course, there were a lot of big patriotic actions to do, too. Number 2 Ohio State Survived by number 5 Notre Dame 10-21 In the heavyweight award fight. Florida Annoyance number 7 Utah 29-26 Behind a late drop from quarterback Anthony Richardson. and number 3 Georgia Level 11 Oregon in Atlanta 49-3.
The highs and deadly lows of college football were on full display during an opening weekend that featured the nation’s fiercest regional competition taking center stage. After another period of reorganization and playoff gossip in the headlines, the first week was a perfect palate cleanser.
Here are the winners, losers, and overreactions from the first week of the college football season.
Winners
Georgia: The rumors of Georgia’s demise seem greatly exaggerated. Despite losing an astonishing 15 players to the NFL Draft, the Bulldogs didn’t miss a step in serving the Oregon. Georgia became the second team in college football history to score touchdowns in its first seven tackles against an AP Top 25. Quarterback Stetson Bennett IV had a career best 368 yards, while 15 different defenders had multiple tackles. The Bulldog War Machine is still fully functional.
Arizona Wide welcome Jacob crying Perhaps the most offensive player in the country last year after hitting 1,354 yards, conceding and carrying a moribund UTEP A merit eligibility program, Cowing appears ready to do the same for wild cats after one year. Maricopa, Arizona, had eight passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns in his first game as a Wildcat to lead a 38-20 win over the San Diego State. This was Arizona’s first road win since October 5, 2019, against Colorado.
Florida coach Billy Napier said: There are not many better ways to start a training period than to beat a top 10 opponent. The Gators hit all the right notes en route to a No. 7 upset in Utah thanks to a dominant rushing performance from quarterback Anthony Richardson. Suddenly, Florida doesn’t seem like an afterthought in the SEC East race. The rivalry game with Georgia should take place on October 29th. Napier became the first coach in the Gators’ history to defeat a #1 opponent in his first game on the show.
losers
NC State QB Devin Leary: Expectations were high for Leary as the Wolfpack entered this year with the highest pre-season rating since Lou Holtz led the program in 1975. However, Leary’s efforts against East Carolina make me concerned that a new room of offensive players won’t come easy at Raleigh . Leary completed barely half of his 33 passes for 211 yards and 6.4 yards per passing attempt. He threw a bad interception as the ECU later turned into a touchdown that should have hooked the game if it wasn’t for an extra point missed. If the Wolfpack is to be a true ACC contender, Leary should be much better for completing an experienced defense.
Texas A&Moffensive line: The Aggies suffered growing pains up front last season, but there was hope that the unit could find its groove in 2022 as part of a team with playoff aspirations. despite the beating Sam Houston 31-0, however, the Aggies offense only scored 3.4 yards per carry and allowed for multiple pressures. With Appalachian State and No. 16 Miami Coming to town in the next two weeks, efforts should improve.
Week 1 Overreaction
Ohio crime has cracks: As the first week approached, there were three teams with high expectations of winning the National Championship: AlabamaGeorgia and Ohio. The aforementioned Bulldogs amassed one of the most impressive victories over a ranked opponent in recent memory, and Alabama played a perfect football match against Utah.
Then there was Ohio State, which needed a handful of miraculous plays from quarterback CJ Stroud along the stretch to create an offensive against Notre Dame. The Buckeyes sure had their toughest game of the weekend, but they looked visibly human after infection To star widely, Jackson Smith Ngigba. Notre Dame’s defense forced the match for much of the night.
There is a chance Ohio State will emerge from these struggles, especially as Jim Knowles’ defense has become more comfortable. However, any notion that Ohio is an impeccable contender for the title in the context of Alabama or Georgia seems wishful thinking so far.
Pac-12 is cooked: Last season, UCLA took a massive helmet label win over LSU at the Rose Bowl. Tigers ended up being terrible, but that didn’t matter; The win over LSU catapulted the Bruins to No. 13 in the national rankings and helped bring credibility to the Pac-12 as a whole.
One year later, Cameron Rising’s ill-advised interception in a loss to Florida is poised to do just the opposite. The Utes were selected at the top of the Pac-12 pre-season polls and considered the favorite by the league to conduct the College Football Playoff game. However, losing to the Gators once again puts the leading Pac-12 team behind the eight ball when it comes to the deciding picture. One win or one loss doesn’t make a season, but the benefit of the doubt simply isn’t there in the Conference of Champions.
This loss, mixed with the embarrassment of the Atlanta ducks, leaves No. 14 USC As the only flawless contender in a Pac-12 playoff match. Good luck and God bless you.
Discounts remain king: There was no better place to start the first week than by the banks of the Ohio River as Backyard Brawl rose from the ashes after an 11-year absence. In all, victory No. 17 came from behind over West Virginia He was the perfect table builder for his college football debut in 2022.
Over 70,000 people attended the match at Acrisure Stadium – Heinz Field remains in our hearts – the largest crowd in Pittsburgh The history of sports…and this is quite a sports city. Legendary players such as Tony Dorsett of Pete and Adam “Pacman” Jones of West Virginia landed on the bench. Dang’s stadium ran out of beer where mortal enemies of city and country met, only 75 miles apart.
More importantly, the match ended in the easiest possible way when Pete’s MG Devonshire grabbed a ball that bounced off West Virginia’s Bryce Ford Wheaton. He returned it 56 yards to pick a six. The moment was as satisfying for the victors as it was for the losers.
