The Roar is back with the newest edition of This Week in College Football!
We’ve got a very interesting slate of games to evaluate after Week One. Let’s dive in.
Biggest Storyline: David, Goliath, and Houdini
As always, Week One delivered on its promise of upsets. Virginia Tech knocked off tenth-ranked North Carolina for the year’s first upset of a team in the top ten. UTSA, Charlotte, Northern Illinois, and Nevada were the Group of Five’s chosen Davids as they slew this year’s selection of the Power Five’s sacrificial Goliaths. Nothing beats getting paid a million dollars to come and beat a “better” team on their home turf.
But several Goliaths, including much of the top ten, looked more like Houdini as they managed to barely eke out an escape from their supposedly-inferior opponents. Second-ranked Oklahoma only beat a Tulane squad still rattled from Hurricane Ida by a mere five points. Oregon needed a late touchdown to get away from Fresno State. Iowa State continued their streak of games against FCS and Group of Five competition by squeaking by Northern Iowa by six. Notre Dame needed overtime to put away the other FSU, prompting Irish head coach Brian Kelly to bring out his best John McKay impression. And that was just the top ranked teams. Other supposedly superior schools also struggled to wins.
For some teams, it was just a rocky start and they’ll be fine. For others, this is extraordinarily bad news. We’ll see which is which as the season progresses.
Biggest Winner: The FCS
Six FCS teams were able to defeat FBS opponents this week. That includes two FCS-over-Power Five games, headlined by the Montana Grizzlies’ win over a ranked Washington Huskies squad.
Few things are as purely soul-crushing for a fanbase as a loss to an FCS team. Just ask Michigan!
But throughout most of the year, the FCS doesn’t get the coverage and recognition that it deserves. FCS fans everywhere, enjoy this. You deserve it.
It’s hard to recover from a loss like this, but we’ll see whether or not these FBS teams are able to move on.
Biggest Loser: North Carolina
Bad, bad coach Mack Brown isn’t living up to the Jim Croce-inspired moniker I just gave him. After his tenth-ranked Tar Heels fell 17-10 to unranked Virginia Tech this week, he’s trending closer to the other type of “bad, bad.”
Sam Howell, who was supposedly a Heisman Trophy front-runner, threw three interceptions. Was it just a bad opener, or are Howell and his Tar Heels in for a rough few months? Only time will tell, but I’d consider partaking in the sacred tradition of all UNC fans: looking forward to basketball season.
Non-Power Game of the Week: Montana 13, #20 Washington 7
Montana is in the FCS, so I say it counts. And it’s my column, so deal with it.
To put it bluntly, this could be another Appalachian State-Michigan. For both teams.
On one hand, Montana is, indeed, an FCS power. They’re a big name with a loyal fanbase, one of the top teams year in and year out of that division. Much like App State circa 2007.
On the other, you have Washington. A team that has had success lately, but has never been able to truly solidify themselves as the consistent kings of the PAC-12. It’s a bold prediction, but I could see this game becoming the beginning of a long, long stretch of seemingly endless, Michigan-esqe mediocrity.
Stat of the Week: Charlotte gets their first-ever win over a Power Five school
Charlotte is a newer program. But they’ve put out some decent results already, are located in a major city in a fertile recruiting ground, and now have this to claim. The 49ers might be one to watch out for over the coming years.
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