Biggest Story of the Week: First Impressions in big
There are
obvious positives and negatives to playing a big time opponent in your opening
game of the season. There were three marquee games on the schedule for Week
One, and in all three games, one team made a big statement.
On Thursday
night, Texas A&M started the post-Johnny Football Era by showing that there
is life after #2. A&M went into Columbia and put on a performance that not
only raised eyebrows in the south, but all over the country. I can’t remember a
game that flipped the script for both teams the way that game did. Everything you
thought you knew went out the window, and we are left thinking that A&M
will have a say in the SEC.
Think about
this, how many games are we now dying to see out of the SEC West? Basically any
game that includes two teams from the west, except for Arkansas is going to be
a must-see affair. The division is so incredibly deep, it is hard to see any
team making it through without a loss.
On Saturday,
two more SEC schools stood out.
Georgia
played a second half for the ages against Clemson. The running game not only
looks dynamic for the Dawgs, but as deep as any backfield in recent memory. If
Mike Bobo and Mark Richt can be creative in keeping all four running backs
involved in the attack, Georgia could literally run over the SEC. You can’t
stop a solid running game. Hutson Mason is going to get plenty of chances to
throw to receivers in one on one situations because teams are going to be
scared to death of Georgia’s running game. Oh, and by the way, Georgia’s
defense would have made Erk Russell smile last night, and Erk Russell didn’t
smile.
Finally, LSU
might have been the most impressive team in week one. With a lot of young
players on a big time stage, the Tigers fell behind by 17 points against a
really good Wisconsin team last night, only to come back in the second half and
show how much potential they truly possess. I said in my season preview that I
thought LSU would be one of the best teams in the nation by the end of the
season, and if last night is any indication, it might not take that long. LSU
has so much talent. If you are going to beat the Tigers, you better do it soon,
because once these young players figure things out, you aren’t going to have a
chance.
Biggest Win of the Week: Texas A&M
The Aggies
are for real, and it looks like Kevin Sumlin might be building a national
powerhouse in College Station. The offensive line for A&M was spectacular
against a good South Carolina defense. This is the same line that has produced
two top 6 picks in the NFL draft over the last two seasons. Kenny Hill looks
like the real deal, and there are skill players all over the field that can
take it to the house any time they touch the ball. If you were annoyed by
Johnny Manziel’s attitude and antics (like I was) you are going to love
watching this offense play at an amazing level, without all the baggage of
Johnny Football.
The defense
will be the key to the Aggies’ season. If they can just make a few stops each
game, then Texas A&M is going to have a great shot at playing in Atlanta in
December.
The issue
for the Aggies is the schedule. They should be 5-0 as they head to Starkville
on October 4th to play Mississippi State. Then they have 5 games
over the next 8 weeks against the cream of the crop in the SEC. The Aggies play
Ole Miss, go to Alabama, have a bye week, then another bye week against UL
Monroe, before traveling to Auburn, hosting Missouri, and finishing the season
on Thanksgiving night against LSU. Wow.
Biggest Loss of the Week: South Carolina
All of the
talk in Columbia was that South Carolina was ready to turn three 11 win seasons
in a row into a legitimate run at a title. All of that talk ended quickly and
decisively on Thursday night. It is easy to overreact to the first week of
college football’s season, but the reality of Carolina’s situation couldn’t be
clearer.
In two
weeks, Georgia comes to town. The same Georgia team that just looked
unstoppable against Clemson. A South Carolina loss against Georgia would pretty
much end their season after only three weeks. Losing two of their first three
games, at home no less, would mean that all of the goals for the season would
realistically be out of the question.
Last season,
Georgia faced this exact situation and came up big against the Gamecocks in
Athens. As quickly as South Carolina’s season spiraled on Thursday night, it
can all be made right with a victory over the Dawgs on September 13.
For now,
South Carolina looks like the leading candidate for biggest disappointment of
the season.
Heisman Winner if the Season Ended
Today: Kenny Hill
I don’t care
what offense you are playing in, 500 yards passing against South Carolina in
Columbia is impressive. A week ago, no one knew his name, so it will be
interesting to see how Kenny Hill responds to being the biggest name of college
football’s opening week.
Mr. Gurley also
made quite an impression. Four touchdowns on 16 touches. Not a bad percentage.
Playoff Teams if the season ended
today:
Obviously
this is going to change dramatically throughout the season, but if the concept
of the playoff is that there are no preseason rankings and it is all about what
happens on the field, then this is reflective of what has happened on the field
so far.
1. Texas A&M
2. Georgia
3. Florida State
4. LSU
Three Things to Watch for Next Week:
1.
In the first Top 10 matchup of the
season, we have a matchup that sounds like a great Rose Bowl: Michigan State v.
Oregon. Neither team was challenged in week one, so we are going to find out
what these two are all about on Saturday night. Playing at Oregon is one of the
most difficult tasks in college football, but a team like Michigan State that
likes to play defense and run the ball, might have a chance to win in that
crazy setting. The winner of this game will have the best win of the season,
and pole position for the playoff.
2.
I’m on record saying that the PAC 12
will cannibalize itself this season, and that will start on Saturday afternoon
when USC travels to Stanford. Both teams won easily in week one, and both teams
have an incredibly difficult schedule following this game. The loser of this
game will basically have their backs against the wall for the rest of the year,
while the winner will have a leg up in the conference race.
3.
No matter the records, Michigan/Notre
Dame matters. On a weekend where there aren’t many games to get excited about,
watching two traditional rivals play in an historic setting should pique your
interest. This rivalry is about to go away, so enjoy watching it while you can.
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