College Football Week One Analysis: Impressed/Depressed/Unmoved

It's baaaaaack! The View From North America's column about who we liked, didn't like, and didn't care about after the first week of the college football season (barring the Tennessee-UCLA game on Monday Night Football).

IMPRESSED

Alabama

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, the Clemson Tigers got beat by Alabama, 34-10. Oh, and you know that hot-shot running offense of Clemson's (James Davis and CJ Spiller)? Zero total rushing yards. Everybody should take notice of this one...

USC

I said that USC's trip to Virginia might be an uneasy one, what with quarterback Mark Sanchez coming off a bum kneecap. After four quarters the score in Charlottesville was USC 52, Virginia 7. Wow, how I was wrong....

Illinois/Missouri

Not one for the lovers of defensive football, but 94 points and nearly 1,100 yards of total offensive between these two teams is enough to make us all drool.

Illinois quarterback Juice Williams' 425-yard effort probably gets more love than Chase Daniel's one of 323, but both teams pointed out—in Mizzou's 52-42 victory—that they will be a force to be reckoned with in their respective conferences.

Having said that, things might not be too fun in the future for Missouri, given that Jeremey Maclin had to leave the game early with an injury.

Stanford/Oregon State

Normally, these two wouldn't make this column unless they pulled off monster upsets, but their opening-round game was an instant classic that ended with a fumble just inches away from the goal line. Stanford is 1-0, by the way, after its 36-28 victory.

Louisiana Tech

If Hurricane Gustav's as bad as expected, then don't expect it to be a wonderful week for the state of Louisiana.

However, Tech's 22-14 victory over Mississippi State, which made a bowl game and beat Auburn last year, will definitely put some smiles on some faces.

Penn State

This is more about Joe Paterno tying Bobby Bowden for first on the all-time wins list for a college football coach than the 66-10 ass-beating of "mighty" Coastal Carolina. The wide receivers and running backs look for real, though.

East Carolina

One big blocked punt that went back for a touchdown. One monster 27-22 upset of Virginia Tech.

UNMOVED

Top 10 teams

All of the top 10 teams did their job and absolutely killed their respective opponents. Except Clemson. There you go.

Michigan/Utah

Normally, I'd be impressed by Utah and depressed about Michigan (if that could ever happen when the Wolverines lose!), but Utah did its level best to lose this one and Michigan were terrible in the first half, stumbling to a 25-10 deficit.

Let's be honest, both teams were hardly at their best and the Utes' 25-23 win on the occasion of Rich Rodriguez's first game in Ann Arbor as Michigan coach was hardly an upset. Still brought a smile to my face, though.

DEPRESSED

Virginia Tech

Anyone know the Hokie for: "BCS Challenge in tatters?"

Pittsburgh

Dave Wannstedt's job is now up for grabs again. LeSean McCoy may be a plus for the Panthers, but the defense definitely isn't.

Ohio State

Forget the 43-0 victory over Youngstown State. If Beanie Wells' foot injury really is serious, then Ohio State's challenge for a third straight National Championship game. as well as the Big Ten title, is in trouble.

Clemson

See the chant for the Alabama game. They just beat the hell out of you.

Texas A&M

Dennis Franchionne wouldn't have lost 18-14 to Arkansas State at home, would he? Well, Mike Sherman did!