Winners and Losers: College Football Week 2
WINNER: The Pac-2
At least preseason, it was safe to say that Washington State and Oregon State were on the short end of the stick in the new-look conference realignment.
With Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA departing for the Big Ten and Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State all jumping ship to the Big 12, things couldn’t look much bleaker for the historic Pac-12 Conference, leaving the Cougars and Beavers as twin misfit toys.
Despite the poor outlook, both teams find themselves at 2-0 after two weeks: Wazzu dispatched Texas Tech in an impressive 37-20 home win, and OSU earned their first road shutout (21-0 vs. San Diego State) since the 1970s.
Not too shabby for a couple of programs presumedly left in the dust.
The road only gets harder from here, both teams face their big brother in-state rivals this Saturday, Oregon State hosting Oregon and Washington State on the road against Washington.
LOSER: The (bad) Luck of the Irish
Northern Illinois offensive lineman Abiathar Curry jumps in the air in celebration after winning a NCAA college football game 16-14 against Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in South Bend (Michael Clubb)
Admittedly, the title here is more poking fun than talking about actual luck.
Notre Dame with favorable commentators, favorable refereeing, and at home off a win all mean nothing compared to the power of MACtion.
Northern Illinois came into Notre Dame Stadium with zero top-5 or even top-10 wins all-time, heck, zero wins against the Fighting Irish all-time (and zero meetings), and waltzed out of Indiana with the upset of the week, 16-14.
Notre Dame coughed the ball up twice to the Huskies’ zero turnovers, and were outgained by 102 yards. All this being favored by 28.5 points.
WINNER: The Return of 1990s Football
https://huskers.com/news/2020/6/9/1995-national-champions
When one thinks of the best of 1990s college football, images of 1995 Nebraska, 1998 Tennessee, and 1994-96 Miami and Texas may come to mind.
Now in 2024, Nebraska is 2-0 behind a drubbing of Colorado, Tennessee impressed with a 51-10 beatdown of a ranked NC State squad, Miami earned back-to-back wins and is the ACC favorite, and Texas knocked off No. 10 Michigan in the Big House.
Diving a bit deeper, the Cornhuskers’ defense was everywhere against the Buffaloes, forcing two turnovers and racking up six sacks, plus outscoring the Colorado offense 7-3 in the first three quarters.
If that wasn’t impressive enough, Nebraska held Colorado to -2 TOTAL yards after the Buffs’ first four drives. Combined.
For Tennessee, they ran for a team total of 249 yards and three touchdowns, plus 211 passing yards (and two more scores).
Add up three sacks, a pick-six, and 13 tackles for loss, and it was a looooong night for the Wolfpack.
Texas wraps up the tough games this weekend with a calm, cool and collected Quinn Ewers slinging for 246 yards and three scores (no picks) aided by three forced Michigan turnovers.
The Longhorns claimed “being back” last year after a long-awaited Big 12 title and playoff appearance, but they look even better now.
LOSER: The Auburn Tigers
Cal wide receiver Nyziah Hunter makes a touchdown catch / John Reed-Imagn Images
I’ll have legendary Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray break down just how rough this game was on a single play.
Not ideal for War Eagle.
Auburn falls to 18-23 since firing Gus Malzhan, a move many Tiger fans may look back on with very different lenses.
Auburn fell by seven (at home) to the newest ACC member California, a game the Golden Bears were 11.5 point underdogs.
Despite the rough loss, Auburn still fought to the end and had a chance late. In fact, two chances late!
Payton Throne threw two of his three interceptions within the final three minutes sandwiched by a slew of Cal punts.
Can’t win games against Power 4 opponents doing that.
WINNER: The Big 12 at the Buzzer
https://www.kansas.com/sports/college/big-12/kansas-state/article292090485.html
The life of any Big 12 program fan is not an easy one, and it was especially so for all the States in the conference (Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Kansas State).
Oklahoma State made their fans sweat with a 39-31 double-overtime thriller over Arkansas, coming after a poor penalty call preventing a first down at the end of regulation, and both teams missing field goals to end the first overtime period.
Jaquinden Jackson outran Ollie Gordon II for the game’s best running back, 149 yards and three touchdowns to just 47 yards and one score, but 12 of those 47 yards (and the touchdown) walked off the Pokes.
For Iowa State, they won the 71st edition of Cy-Hawk with a Kyle Konrady 54-yard boot through the uprights to win 20-19, a game the Cyclones had no business staying in much less winning.
This upset earns ISU a ranked win plus their second W in eight tries over Iowa since Matt Campbell took over.
Lastly, Kansas State had perhaps the wildest ending up by seven at Tulane and seemingly giving up the game-tying touchdown by Yulkieth Brown, but was overturned due to offensive pass interference.
Two plays after the controversial call, VJ Payne picked off Darian Mensah’s pass in the endzone, and K-State moved to 2-0.
LOSER: 4th Quarter Bearcats
The Pittsburgh Panthers celebrate after beating the Cincinnati Bearcats 28-27 at Nippert Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Cincinnati, OH. (Getty Images)
Cincinnati was at the top of the Group-of-5 world just a few years ago, winning the American conference title, clinching the first non-Power 5 playoff spot, and soon to be at the big kid table as the newest Big 12 team.
Just like their former quarterback Desmond Ridder, things came crashing down to Earth this Saturday.
The Bearcats held a seemingly impenetrable 27-6 lead in the final minute of the third quarter in their home opener against Pittsburgh.
Then the Panthers score an 11-yard touchdown on 3rd and goal to end the third quarter, but that’s ok, still just 27-13.
Cincy has a five-play drive. Punt. Pitt rolls back down the field, another touchdown this time on fourth down.
27-19.
Bearcats go seven yards in four plays. Punt.
Now at midfield, Eli Holstien back to pass, and there goes Desmond Reid for the 56-yard touchdown with under six minutes to play.
27-25.
Bearcats get yet another chance, get the clock to under three minutes. Still, another punt.
Cincinnati earns a 4th-down stop, but a flag! Delay of game, first down Pitt.
A Holstein 34-yard pass down into the Bearcat redzone and a few timeouts later, and a 35-yard field goal rolls past the uprights.
27-28.
Last gasp for the Bearcats, pass only goes a few yards, fumble, Pitt recovers, Panthers win.
The largest comeback win for the Pittsburgh Panthers since 1971.