Welcome Back College Football

Well, college football is back after a eight month hiatus, and there were surprises on day one. There was only one upset, but many teams came close to pulling off the upset. With that being said, here’s some of my thoughts on the day’s action.

Navy 27 Ohio State 31: Many say the close game means the Buckeyes are overrated. I don’t think so. Navy is a very solid team. Navy has made the bowl season every year since 2003. Still, Navy isn’t in the same league as Ohio State. The close game adds fuel to those who believe the Big 10 is in some down years.

Georgia 10 Oklahoma State 24: Even after this nice win, I still don’t think Oklahoma State has a chance in the Big 12. OSU maybe a good team, but they will be in the shadows of other schools like Texas and Oklahoma. Georgia on the other hand, doesn’t have anything to worry about. They played well against a good team.

Alabama 34 Virgina Tech 24: Nothing surprising in this game. VT simply didn’t have the energy to keep up. Nick Saban has never had consecutive 10 win seasons, so I don’t think Alabama will be in the National Championship Picture in December.

Boise State 19 Oregon 8: Who can’t cheer for a team like Boise State? They are such lovable underdogs in almost every big game, yet they win most of them. Boise looks like they are on their way to a BCS game.

North Texas 20 Ball State 10: This game may not make it onto the national scene, much but it’s big news in Denton. UNT appears to finally have a program which can compete with most teams. Coach Todd Dodge thinks UNT can make a bowl game this year, but I’m still not convinced completely. Ball State looks like they have some work to do, just to have a similar season to last year’s 12-2.

Nevada 0 Notre Dame 35: Okay, Notre Dame surprised me a little in this game. I thought they would win against a lesser opponent in Nevada, but an impressive shutout is something to be excited about. Even with the victory, Notre Dame has a long ways to go to be in the National Championship talk.

Oklahoma 13 BYU 14: The big news is obviously Sam Bradford going down with a shoulder injury, but this was actually the best game on Saturday. It was also a huge upset. I thought the game would be good since both teams were ranked and playing at a big stage in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, but I didn’t think there would be an upset. BYU looks like they are on their way to a good season, while OU will just have to hold out until Bradford can come back. OU has the talent to win games without a good offense, and they shouldn’t be pressured next month at Miami.

LSU 31 Washington 23: Everyone except LSU fans wanted Washington to win this game. After all, the Huskies were one of only two teams to go winless last year. I think its safe to say Washington will get a win this year against somebody after their impressive performance against LSU. LSU has to be concerned about their performance against a school with less talent.

Other Notes: Freshman Matt Berkley at USC looked good in his first start, but it was against San Jose State. His real test will be next week against Ohio State. I will also be looking forward to the Miami-Florida State game Monday. This game has traditionally been one of the best games to watch, and often comes down to field goals. I just wish the game was played later in the season with more pressure on the line.