On College Football: Auburn Avoids Catastrophe, Bielema Gets His Karma

It’s a college football platitude. When the weekend looks boring, buckle up. Last Saturday seemed to be the 2015 season’s weakest. It far surpassed its excitement and narrative quota, even into the wee hours.

Week Two had three Top 25 matchups – Oregon at Michigan State, Oklahoma at Tennessee, LSU at Mississippi State. Those three games were decided by five points combined in regulation. The Vols blew a two-touchdown lead in the 4th quarter. An LSU game turned on a clock blunder, that had nothing to do with Les Miles.

Two second-tier games had wild endings. BYU flipped the script on Boise State in the final minute. Notre Dame lost starting QB Malik Zaire for the season. Backup Deshone Kizer led a two-minute drill for a game-winning touchdown over Virginia. Another perception victory for Mike London, when he needs tangible ones.

Then there was the game no one anticipated. Auburn escaped FCS Jacksonville State in overtime, after coming from behind in the 4th quarter. Never kneel in regulation as an FCS team on the precipice.

We can quibble about Stanford over USC in 2007 and point spreads. But, the Tigers entered ranked No. 6. Two-thirds of the media projected them to reach the college football playoff. This was, nearly, college football’s most momentous defeat since Appalachian State over Michigan. (No, we’re not linking that video.)

Toss in a middle finger, a coaching blow up, and a punch in the nuts. It was quite the Saturday.

S-E-C NARRATIVE

Last week saw the SEC reign triumphant. This week, performances were less satisfactory. Aforementioned Tennessee collapsed against Oklahoma. Aforementioned Auburn only just survived against a cupcake. Florida labored against East Carolina. Ditto for Missouri against Arkansas State.

Trumping all was a delectable bit of karma. Bret Bielema tooted his horn about the eight ranked teams on Arkansas’ schedule midweek. Then, his Razorbacks lost 16-12 to unranked Toledo. Schadenfreude for all, outside Fayetteville.

That game featured one of the oddest box scores you’ll see. Arkansas (a) threw the ball 53 times and (b) somehow gained 515 total yards, turned the ball over only once and scored just 12 points.

This wasn’t a banner weekend for the Southeastern Conference. But, who shall we put ahead?

The Pac 12 lost both State of Michigan battles and had ASU flirt with catastrophe against Cal Poly. The Big Ten won those games, but had Rutgers lose to Washington State, Maryland get dropped by three touchdowns by a MAC team, and Minnesota only winning in overtime against Colorado State.

Step right up, Big 12? The back of the conference saw Iowa State lose the Cyhawk Trophy, Kansas lose by 32 to Memphis and Texas not be a demonstrably better football team than Rice. Only two ACC teams played live opposition last weekend. Both were scalped at home.

Perhaps, it is time to quit the conference holistic rhetoric and focus on teams and football?

SWIPE RIGHT

Georgia Tech Statistics: The Yellow Jackets have yet to play a notable team, opening against Alcorn State and Tulane. But, they are posting some numbers. Twelve different players have scored 19 total touchdowns over two games. Fifteen have come on the ground, where Tech is averaging 8.47 yards/attempt.

Tom Herman: The talent level is not where Tom Herman would like. That didn’t stop his Houston Cougars from picking off a touted, talented Louisville on the road 34-31. His offense converted 11/22 third downs against “that Todd Grantham defense.” Early days, but he probably has a decent Power 5 job by 2017 at the latest.

Eastern Michigan: The Eagles went to Wyoming and dropped the Cowboys 48-29. This was Eastern Michigan’s first non-conference road win since 1988. That stat is a bit overstated. EMU’s non-conference road slate is generally serving as a punching bag for Michigan/Michigan State. But, this still may be the worst job in FBS. The Eagles have come a long way in a calendar year.

SWIPE LEFT

South Carolina: Kentucky snapped its 22-game road losing streak, against South Carolina. The Gamecocks played better than they did in week one’s win, but had five drives of 50-plus yards produce 10 points. They also lost Connor Mitch for four to six weeks. Four of South Carolina’s next seven are road trips – Georgia, Missouri, Texas A&M and Tennessee. There’s also a home date with LSU. This could get ugly.

Randy Edsall: Year five at the dream job for Randy Edsall. The Terps gave up 692 total yards, turned the ball over four times, and lost by three touchdowns at home to a MAC team. Maryland opens the B1G season with Michigan and Ohio State. They drew Wisconsin and (at) Iowa from the West. It could be a long year.

Maty Mauk: Mauk has completed 48 percent of his passes, has thrown three picks, and has averaged 5.7 yards/attempt. Missouri has faced Southeast Missouri State and Arkansas State. Keep an eye out for true freshman Drew Lock.

FAN OF THE WEEK

This Auburn fan came a bit too close to witnessing history for his liking, undoubtedly has some stories to tell.

JAYLON SMITH WILL LIKELY BE GOING PRO IN SPORTS