Insights from Week Two of College Football
The second week of the college football season was filled with a blend of straightforward wins, confusion, and the emergence of new rivalries.
Teams like Ohio, Miami, Florida, Utah, and Tennessee dominated their FCS opponents. Meanwhile, programs like Texas Tech, Indiana, Alabama, Oregon, and Pennsylvania took down several FBS teams.
In other matchups, intrigue brewed as rivals faced off. Iowa State celebrated a consecutive victory over Iowa, a feat they hadn’t achieved in over a decade. Meanwhile, Missouri outperformed Kansas in their first Border War clash in 14 years. Baylor fought back from a double-digit deficit to defeat SMU in overtime, and Syracuse completed a comeback against UCONN in a nostalgic matchup between former Big East rivals.
Then, something noteworthy unfolded in Florida. The South Florida Bulls triumphed over the Florida Gators for the very first time. Nicogramatica’s crucial field goal late in the game secured an 18-16 victory for USF, marking a historic achievement as they defeated an AP top 25-ranked opponent two weeks in a row. USF is starting to look like a strong contender, not only among American programs but possibly for a coveted playoff spot.
USF has often been considered a potential powerhouse in college football. It seems they might finally be waking up and showing their potential.
Coach Alex Golesh is making waves, emerging as a prime candidate for positions at Power 4 schools as the coaching carousel begins. There might be opportunities for him at Gainesville or Blacksburg, Virginia, especially after the Hokies let a notable lead slip away against Vanderbilt. But for the moment, the focus should be on Golesh’s current success with USF, rather than where he might land next.
On the subject of Virginia Tech, Brent Pry’s situation is looking precarious; the Hokies find themselves at 0-2 for the first time since 2010. It has been a struggle for Virginia Tech in recent years, particularly in bringing in top-tier talent to Lane Stadium since 2017.
In other news, Bill Belichick notched his first win while discussing his interactions with Patriots scouts. Illinois showed promise as a playoff contender at Duke, whereas Clemson certainly did not fare well at home against Troy. Arch Manning impressed by throwing four touchdowns against San Jose State with a unique sidearm throw, while Mississippi State secured a notable victory over Arizona State. Additionally, John Mateer boosted his Heisman chances, leading Oklahoma to a win against Michigan.
These results led to updates in the AP Top 25 poll, released Sunday afternoon.
