College Football Rankings 2015: Power Ranking All 128 Teams for Week 2
The first week of the 2015 college football season had everything we could have asked for. Then again, after waiting nearly nine months for meaningful games after the long offseason, it didn't take much to satiate our hunger.
There were shootouts and defensive struggles, blowouts and last-second wins—even a Hail Mary—and a couple of notable upsets. Put them all together, and you've got the first set of current data that we can use to update our power rankings for the first time this season.
Bleacher Report's power rankings are comprised of an average of five sources: B/R's weekly top 25, the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls, ratings guru Jeff Sagarin's computer rankings and my personal ranking of every school. The top 50 teams are broken down individually, while the rest of the 128 FBS teams are summarized in a few easy-to-digest chunks.
Check out the Week 2 rankings, and then give us your thoughts in the comments section.
Nos. 128-91
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The bottom third of the FBS ranks is mostly filled with teams that served as sacrificial lambs to the power-conference bullies, though there are also a handful of schools that used a win over an FCS team to help build confidence for the remainder of the season. There's also Hawaii, who opened with a 28-20 home win over Colorado to start 1-0 for the first time since 2011 (when it also beat the Buffaloes).
- 128. Georgia State Panthers (0-1)
- 127. Eastern Michigan Eagles (0-1)
- 126. New Mexico State Aggies (0-1)
- 124.(tie) Idaho Vandals (0-1)
- 124. (tie) Charlotte 49ers (1-0)
- 123. Kent State Golden Flashes (0-1)
- 122. Wyoming Cowboys (0-1)
- 121. Troy Trojans (0-1)
- 119. (tie) Miami, Ohio Redhawks (1-0)
- 119. (tie) Army Black Knights (0-1)
- 118. Tulane Green Wave (0-1)
- 116. (tie) Southern Miss Golden Eagles (0-1)
- 116. (tie) Florida Atlantic Owls (0-1)
- 113. (tie) SMU Mustangs (0-1)
- 113. (tie) Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (0-1)
- 113. (tie) Akron Zips (0-1)
- 112. South Alabama Jaguars (1-0)
- 111. Old Dominion Monarchs (1-0)
- 110. UNLV Runnin' Rebels (1-0)
- 109. UTSA Roadrunners (1-0)
- 108. Connecticut Huskies (1-0)
- 105. (tie) UTEP Miners (0-1)
- 105. (tie) Massachusetts Minutemen (0-0)
- 105. (tie) Ball State Cardinals (1-0)
- 103. (tie) Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-0)
- 103. (tie) Texas State Bobcats (0-1)
- 102. New Mexico Lobos (1-0)
- 101. North Texas Mean Green (0-0)
- 100. Kansas Jayhawks (1-0)
- 99. Buffalo Bulls (1-0)
- 98. Central Michigan Chippewas (0-1)
- 97. Florida International Golden Panthers (1-0)
- 96. Ohio Bobcats (1-0)
- 95. Colorado Buffaloes (0-1)
- 94. Arkansas State Red Wolves (0-1)
- 92. (tie) Washington State Cougars (0-1)
- 92. (tie) Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (1-0)
- 91. South Florida Bulls (1-0)
Nos. 90-61
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First-time head coach Mike Bobo had a very successful debut at Colorado State, piloting the Rams to a 65-13 win over Savannah State. He was one of eight coaches in their first season at a school to win in the opening week, while another eight lost their openers.
- 90. Georgia Southern Eagles (0-1)
- 89. San Jose State Spartans (1-0)
- 88. Vanderbilt Commodores (0-1)
- 87. Purdue Boilermakers (0-1)
- 86. Bowling Green Falcons (0-1)
- 85. Appalachian State Mountaineers (1-0)
- 84. Nevada Wolf Pack (1-0)
- 82. (tie) Wake Forest Demon Deacons (1-0)
- 82. (tie) Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (1-0)
- 81. Fresno State Bulldogs (1-0)
- 79. (tie) UCF Knights (0-1)
- 79. (tie) Indiana Hoosiers (1-0)
- 78. Rice Owls (1-0)
- 77. East Carolina Pirates (1-0)
- 76. Western Michigan Broncos (0-1)
- 74. (tie) Virginia Cavaliers (0-1)
- 74. (tie) Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (0-1)
- 73. Oregon State Beavers (1-0)
- 72. Northern Illinois Huskies (1-0)
- 71. Colorado State Rams (1-0)
- 70. Syracuse Orange (1-0)
- 69. San Diego State Aztecs (1-0)
- 67. (tie) Texas Tech Red Raiders (1-0)
- 67. (tie) Air Force Falcons (1-0)
- 66. Texas Longhorns (0-1)
- 65. Boston College Eagles (1-0)
- 64. Penn State Nittany Lions (0-1)
- 62. (tie) Kentucky Wildcats (1-0)
- 62. (tie) Iowa State Cyclones (1-0)
- 61. North Carolina Tar Heels (0-1)
Nos. 60-51
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Marshall used two interception returns for touchdowns from Tiquan Lang to beat Purdue, 41-31, on Sunday to earn the program's first-ever win over a Big Ten opponent. The Thundering Herd, which went 13-1 last season, have won 20 of their last 22 games.
- 60. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (1-0)
- 58. (tie) Utah State Aggies (0-1)
- 58. (tie) Michigan Wolverines (0-1)
- 57. Toledo Rockets (0-0)
- 56. Houston Cougars (1-0)
- 55. Illinois Fighting Illini (1-0)
- 54. Pittsburgh Panthers (1-0)
- 53. Navy Midshipmen (1-0)
- 52. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (1-0)
- 51. Marshall Thundering Herd (1-0)
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50. Maryland Terrapins
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Average rating: 47.13
Week 1 result: Won 50-21 vs. Richmond
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Bowling Green
Maryland used a very balanced effort to post a big opening win over an FCS team, getting scores through the air and on the ground as well as major contributions from special teams.
William Likely had 296 all-purpose yards on punt and kickoff returns for the Terrapins, averaging 29.1 yards on eight punt returns that included a 67-yard score.
Maryland got rushing TDs from three different players, with Brandon Ross going for 150 yards and a score, while Perry Hills threw for 138 yards and two TDs.
49. Memphis Tigers
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Average rating: 46.17
Week 1 result: Won 63-7 vs. Missouri State
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at Kansas
Memphis had little trouble crushing its FCS opponent, jumping out to a 42-0 lead and then putting it on cruise control for its eighth consecutive win.
The Tigers had 519 yards of total offense, 317 of that coming on the ground. Jarvis Cooper ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns, with Doroland Dorceus also scoring twice with the run.
Roderick Proctor added a punt return score, and Memphis limited Missouri State to 125 yards.
48. Cincinnati Bearcats
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Average rating: 45.63
Week 1 result: Won 52-10 vs. Alabama A&M
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Temple
Gunner Kiel had 233 passing yards and two touchdowns in Cincinnati's effortless 42-point win over an FCS team, scoring 45 consecutive points after ending the first quarter tied at seven.
Kiel completed 18 of 22 passes, connecting twice for scores with Johnny Holton. Cincinnati ran for 296 yards and four touchdowns, with Tion Green going for 127 yards and a score.
The Bearcats held Alabama A&M to 246 yards of total offense.
47. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
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Average rating: 45.33
Week 1 result: Won 14-12 at Vanderbilt
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 10 vs. Louisiana Tech
Western Kentucky's offense struggled for most of the game, but it got just enough from quarterback Brandon Doughty and running back Leon Allen down the stretch to earn its third win over an SEC team in the past four seasons.
The Hilltoppers, who beat Kentucky in both 2012 and 2013, had just 246 yards, including 209 from Doughty, who last year led FBS with 4,830 passing yards and 49 TDs. Allen had 56 rushing yards and a touchdown, a four-yard run with one minute left in the third quarter to give Western Kentucky the lead at 7-3.
Western Kentucky clinched the win by stopping Vanderbilt on a two-point conversion with 33 seconds left.
46. Washington Huskies
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Average rating: 44.0
Week 1 result: Lost 16-13 at Boise State
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Sacramento State
Washington wasn't able to give its coach a season-opening road win against his former team, but the Huskies did get an idea of what its future will be like under true freshman quarterback Jake Browning. It will be rough at first, but there's plenty of promise.
The Huskies tallied only 179 total yards, with 29 on the ground, and trailed 16-0 but thanks to a punt return touchdown from Dante Pettis and a blocked punt they were able to fight back and have a chance to send the game into overtime. Browning was sacked twice on the final drive, though, forcing a longer-than-desired 46-yard field goal with 21 seconds left that Cameron Van Winkle pushed narrowly to the right.
Browning threw for 150 yards on 20-of-34 passing, but rarely attempted to go farther than 10 or 15 yards downfield.
45. California Golden Bears
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Average rating: 43.13
Week 1 result: Won 73-14 vs. Grambling State
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. San Diego State
California had no trouble dispatching FCS foe Grambling, racking up 656 yards and scoring twice on defense for a blowout win.
Jared Goff threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns on 24-of-32 passing, and Kenny Lawler had three of the Golden Bears' four TD receptions. Cal also ran for 185 yards and got TDs from four different players.
Cal, which ranked dead last in FBS last season in pass defense, held Grambling to 170 yards and returned two interceptions for touchdowns.
44. Iowa Hawkeyes
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Average rating: 42.5
Week 1 result: Won 31-14 vs. Illinois State
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at Iowa State
After some narrow victories in recent openers against FCS teams, Iowa had little trouble getting past a good Illinois State thanks to a playbook that was far more open for C.J. Beathard at quarterback than with Jake Rudock guiding the offense.
Beathard threw for 211 yards and a touchdown and added two rushing scores as the Hawkeyes scored the game's first 31 points. LeShun Daniels Jr.'s 123 rushing yards paced a 210-yard ground performance, and Iowa held the Redbirds to 35 rushing yards and 231 overall.
43. Minnesota Golden Gophers
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Average rating: 41.9
Week 1 result: Lost 23-17 vs. TCU
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at Colorado State
Minnesota fell short in its bid to start the 2015 college football season off with a big upset, but though it lost to playoff contender TCU at home the Golden Gophers did hold them to their lowest scoring output in 22 months.
The Gophers got 197 passing yards and a touchdown from Mitch Leidner, while Rodney Smith had 88 rushing yards and a score. They trailed by 13 in the fourth quarter before scoring late and then getting the ball back, but the lack of a deep passing game—only two of Leidner's 19 completions were for more than 16 yards—prevented them from being able to mount a potential go-ahead drive at the end.
41. (tie) Nebraska Cornhuskers
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Average rating: 40.67
Week 1 result: Lost 33-28 vs. BYU
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. South Alabama
Coaches making their debuts at new schools in FBS went a combined 8-8 in the first week, but of those on the losing end, none likely felt it more than Nebraska's Mike Riley after his team lost to BYU on a Hail Mary pass.
After bouncing back from a 10-point halftime deficit, the Cornhuskers held off the Cougars on their final drive and prevented them from getting into field-goal range. Then backup quarterback Tanner Mangum hit Mitch Mathews for a 42-yard pass that he caught right at the goal line for the win.
Riley, who came from Oregon State, has opted not to dwell on the loss.
"With that continued effort, we can definitely improve some things and change some things to make us get better," Riley said, per Eric Olson of the Associated Press (via NCAA.com). "I've got good faith that'll happen. There was some pretty good football at times, I thought, by us."
Nebraska got 319 passing yards and two touchdowns from Tommy Armstrong Jr. in the loss, with Jordan Westerkamp catching seven balls for 107 yards and a score, but it allowed 511 yards to the Cougars.
41. (tie) Miami (Florida) Hurricanes
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Average rating: 40.67
Week 1 result: Won 45-0 vs. Bethune-Cookman
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 11 at Florida Atlantic
Miami posted its first shutout since 2010, holding its FCS opponent to 79 yards and forcing two turnovers while getting strong efforts from its offense and special teams.
Brad Kaaya threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns, with Rashawn Scott (six catches, 100 yards, one TD) leading the way. Mark Walton was one of three rushers to score on the ground, contributing 85 yards to the 195-yard effort.
Corn Elder added a 72-yard punt-return TD for the Hurricanes.
40. Stanford Cardinal
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Average rating: 37.5
Week 1 result: Lost 16-6 at Northwestern
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. UCF
No team among the perceived powers fell harder in the first week than Stanford, which failed to score 10 points for the first time since 2007, the same year it lost its season opener.
Northwestern held the Cardinal to 240 yards and limited Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan to 155 passing yards and 4.4 yards per attempt. Stanford only allowed 330 yards, but that included a 42-yard touchdown run by Wildcats quarterback Clayton Thorson for the game's only TD.
39. Temple Owls
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Average rating: 37.1
Week 1 result: Won 27-10 vs. Penn State
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at Cincinnati
Temple soared to an historic victory over in-state rival Penn State, scoring 27 unanswered points after falling behind 10-0 to post its first win against the Nittany Lions since 1941.
The Owls sacked PSU quarterback Christian Hackenberg 10 times for 64 yards, resulting in a total defense of only 180 yards. They had just 313 yards of their own but got 135 rushing yards and two TDs from Jahad Thomas. Meanwhile quarterback P.J. Walker ran for a score and had 143 yards on 15-of-20 passing.
Dating back to last November, Temple has allowed 27 points in its last three games.
38. South Carolina Gamecocks
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Average rating: 37.0
Week 1 result: Won 17-13 vs. North Carolina (in Charlotte, North Carolina)
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Kentucky
South Carolina pulled out a sloppy, defense-driven victory over North Carolina to open with a big confidence booster for a team that struggled stopping opponents most of last season.
The Gamecocks intercepted Marquise Williams three times, twice in the end zone, and held the Tar Heels to just three points in the red zone. They allowed 440 yards, including 208 on the ground, but made the necessary stops at key times.
They also got just enough offense to win, with Connor Mitch throwing for 122 yards and a touchdown and Shon Carson running for 75 yards and a score.
37. Virginia Tech Hokies
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Average rating: 36.83
Week 1 result: Lost 42-24 vs. Ohio State
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Furman
Virginia Tech had the defending national champions on the ropes at halftime, taking a 17-14 lead into the locker room and brimming with confidence. Then Ohio State scored a minute into the second half, Tech quarterback Michael Brewer broke his collarbone and the rout was soon on.
The Hokies allowed 28 straight points, 21 after Brewer was injured and replaced by Brenden Motley, who couldn't match Brewer's passing. Brewer, who will be out between four and eight weeks following surgery, had thrown for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 11-of-16 passing, with the TDs coming on a wheel route to fullback Sam Rogers and a throwback to tight end Ryan Malleck.
Tech wasn't able to prevent the big play, which ultimately spelled its doom. In allowing 572 yards to the Buckeyes, they gave up scoring strikes of 80 and 53 yards on the ground and 54 through the air.
36. Florida Gators
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Average rating: 35.5
Week 1 result: Won 61-13 vs. New Mexico State
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. East Carolina
The Jim McElwain era got off to a strong start at Florida—his team gaining 606 yards and getting strong play from both quarterbacks in a lopsided victory.
Starter Treon Harris threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-19 passing, while Will Grier had 164 yards and two touchdowns on 15-of-17 passing along with 43 rushing yards and a score. The Gators ran for 224 yards, getting TD runs from four different players.
Florida held New Mexico State to 200 yards of total offense.
35. Duke Blue Devils
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Average rating: 35.33
Week 1 result: Won 37-7 at Tulane
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. North Carolina Central
Duke won its season opener for the fourth straight season in impressive fashion, racking up 530 yards in the process.
Thomas Sirk had 357 yards of total offense in his first start, throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns and adding 68 on the ground. Shaun Wilson ran for 77 yards, and Johnell Barnes had 11 catches for 109 yards and a touchdown.
The Blue Devils held Tulane to 25 rushing yards and also got a 95-yard kickoff-return TD from DeVon Edwards.
34. Northwestern Wildcats
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Average rating: 35.2
Week 1 result: Won 16-6 vs. Stanford
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Eastern Illinois
Northwestern pulled off its biggest win in years, one that the Wildcats hope will reverse a mostly downward trend that's extended for two seasons, keeping Stanford out of the end zone while producing just enough offense to get by.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson's 42-yard touchdown run gave Northwestern a 10-3 halftime lead that would hold up, and he finished with 173 of the Wildcats' 330 yards of offense. Running back Justin Jackson added 134 yards on 28 carries, and the Wildcats held Stanford to 240 yards including just 4.4 per pass attempt from Kevin Hogan.
32. (tie) Louisville Cardinals
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Average rating: 34.4
Week 1 result: Lost 31-24 vs. Auburn (in Atlanta)
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Houston
Louisville will likely want to only look at the second-half film of its loss to Auburn, as that's when the Cardinals played with focus and purpose after getting shut out for the first 33-plus minutes.
In the end, Louisville ended up outgaining Auburn, 405-327, with most of that yardage coming after halftime as it scored on all four of its possessions. That included running back Brandon Radcliff's two-yard touchdown run with 2:59 left, but the Cardinals couldn't get the ball back after that.
Quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Reggie Bonnafon struggled, combining to complete 17 of 33 passes for 167 yards with an interception, which Jackson threw on the Cardinals' first possession. Jackson did make up for it with 106 rushing yards and a TD, while Radcliff ran for 76 yards and two scores.
32. (tie) Kansas State Wildcats
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Average rating: 34.4
Week 1 result: Won 34-0 vs. South Dakota
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at UTSA
Kansas State had an impressive defensive performance in its opener, which helped make up for the loss of its starting quarterback early in the game.
Sophomore Jesse Ertz started but injured his knee after only a few minutes and was replaced by Joe Hubener. Ertz "is going to be out for quite some time," head coach Bill Snyder said Monday, per Jake Trotter of ESPN.com.
Hubener threw for 147 yards and threw a touchdown to Deante Burton, while Winston Dimel scored two rushing TDs. The Wildcats held South Dakota to 266 yards and also scored on a 100-yard kickoff return from Morgan Burns.
31. North Carolina State Wolfpack
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Average rating: 33.83
Week 1 result: Won 49-21 vs. Troy
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Eastern Kentucky
North Carolina State won its third straight season opener behind Jacoby Brissett's 196 passing yards and two touchdowns and a 126-yard, two-touchdown performance on the ground from running back Matt Dayes.
Dayes, starting in place of the suspended Shadrach Thornton, combined with Jaylen Samuels to help the Wolfpack score five rushing TDs and grind out 251 yards. Brissett threw only two incompletions on 23 attempts.
NC State has won 11 of its last 12 nonconference games.
30. Oklahoma State Cowboys
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Average rating: 31.0
Week 1 result: Won 24-13 at Central Michigan
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Central Arkansas
Oklahoma State slugged out a solid opening victory on the road in Mid-American Conference territory, getting 266 passing yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) from Mason Rudolph and 89 rushing yards from junior college transfer Chris Carson.
The Cowboys never trailed, but they also never led by more than the 11-point final margin against a scrappy Central Michigan team that was looking for its first win ever over a Big 12 team and third against a power-conference opponent in the past four years after beating Purdue in 2014 and Iowa in 2012.
29. BYU Cougars
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Average rating: 29.9
Week 1 result: Won 33-28 at Nebraska
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Boise State
BYU scored a major upset on the road by knocking off Nebraksa with a Hail Mary pass at the buzzer, but the victory was a minor consolation after the Cougars lost their quarterback to a season-ending injury for the third time in his career.
Taysom Hill, who had his 2012 and 2014 seasons cut short because of injuries as well, suffered a foot injury that head coach Bronco Mendenhall said after the game was a Lisfranc fracture which will end the senior's season, per USA Today Sports.
Hill had thrown for 268 yards and a touchdown and added 72 rushing yards and two scores, but Tanner Mangum came on and threw for 111 yards and the game-winning score. Mangum, a true freshman who spent the past two years on a Mormon mission, shared MVP honors at the 2011 Elite 11 quarterback competition with Jameis Winston.
28. Arizona State Sun Devils
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Average rating: 28.0
Week 1 result: Lost 38-17 vs. Texas A&M (in Houston)
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Cal Poly
In one of the most high-profile games of the opening weekend, Arizona State fell far short of its lofty expectations by showing inconsistency on offense and very little push on defense. As a result, the Sun Devils saw their playoff hopes take a major hit right out of the gate.
ASU had only 291 yards, 151 fewer than last season's average, with only 92 yards on the ground. Quarterback Mike Bercovici was sacked nine times, the most ASU has allowed in any game during Todd Graham's three-plus seasons as coach, per Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic.
The Sun Devils defense was unable to slow down Texas A&M, and two of the biggest problems it had were with Arizona residents who signed with the Aggies in the past two seasons.
Quarterback Kyle Allen threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score, with two of his three TDs coming in the fourth quarter, and Christian Kirk had 224 all-purpose yards that included a 79-yard punt return score and a 66-yard TD reception.
27. Mississippi State Bulldogs
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Average rating: 27.0
Week 1 result: Won 34-16 at Southern Miss
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. LSU
In a game and atmosphere that could have easily led to a disappointing loss, Mississippi State did more than enough to escape Hattiesburg with a solid victory over a team that has won four games the past three seasons.
Dak Prescott had 309 yards of total offense and three total touchdowns, including a seven-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter to ice the game.
The Bulldogs also got a 100-yard kickoff return from Brandon Holloway, who added 51 rushing yards.
26. West Virginia Mountaineers
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Average rating: 26.6
Week 1 result: Won 44-0 vs. Georgia Southern
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Liberty
West Virginia posted its first shutout of an FBS team since 2005, shutting down the top rushing attack from a year ago while also shining on offense.
The Mountaineers limited Georgia Southern to 3.4 yards per carry compared to the 7.1 the Eagles had last season. They also intercepted four passes, three in one quarter by safety Karl Joseph.
Offensively, West Virginia got 359 passing yards and two touchdowns from Skyler Howard, while Wendell Smallwood ran for 96 yards and a score.
25. Arizona Wildcats
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Average rating: 25.6
Week 1 result: Won 42-32 vs. UTSA
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at Nevada
On a weekend when many other Pac-12 teams suffered painful team losses, Arizona's setback was from an individual standpoint and took some luster off the opening victory.
Junior linebacker Scooby Wright will be out three to four weeks after injuring his knee early in the win over UTSA, and he underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus on Saturday, per Daniel Berk of the Arizona Daily Star.
Without Wright, Arizona's defense had an up-and-down night, allowing 525 yards but scoring two defensive touchdowns on an interception return from Anthony Lopez and a Jamar Allah fumble return.
Anu Solomon threw for 229 yards and four touchdowns, while Nick Wilson ran for 97 yards.
24. Wisconsin Badgers
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Average rating: 25.2
Week 1 result: Lost 35-17 vs. Alabama (in Arlington, Texas)
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Miami, Ohio
Wisconsin looked up to the challenge of handling Alabama for one half but didn't have the horses to hang around after halftime without a run game.
The Badgers got just 40 yards on the ground on 21 carries, with 25 of those coming from a late 25-yard run from wide receiver Alex Erickson. Corey Clement, slowed by a groin injury, had only 16 yards on eight carries, putting more pressure on quarterback Joel Stave to carry the offense.
Stave threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns with an interception on 26-of-39 passing.
Wisconsin struggled mightily to slow down Alabama's run game, allowing 238 yards and four TDs.
23. Utah Utes
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Average rating: 24.6
Week 1 result: Won 24-17 vs. Michigan
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 11 vs. Utah State
Utah began its season in the shadow of the lights shined on new Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, but by the end of the night all the attention was on the play of the Utes thanks to quarterback Travis Wilson and a strong defense.
Wilson threw for 208 yards on 24-of-33 passing and ran for 53 yards with a touchdown, while Devontae Booker added 69 rushing yards and a score.
The Utes held Michigan to 76 yards on the ground and intercepted Jake Rudock three times, with Justin Thomas returning one pick 55 yards for a TD.
22. Boise State Broncos
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Average rating: 24.4
Week 1 result: Won 16-13 vs. Washington
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at BYU
Boise State got the much-sought-after win over its former coach, but it was far harder than expected after taking a 16-0 halftime lead and then sweating out the final 30 minutes, including a last-second field-goal try.
Despite holding Washington—coached by Chris Petersen—to 179 yards and just 29 on the ground, Boise had to hold its ground in the final minute to force the Huskies into a 46-yard field-goal try that sailed just wide right.
Quarterback Ryan Finley threw for just 129 yards and an interception on 16-of-26 passing, but Boise got 89 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Jeremy McNichols. The Broncos' biggest problems came on special teams, having an extra point and a punt blocked and allowing a punt return for a TD.
21. Missouri Tigers
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Average rating: 24.0
Week 1 result: Won 34-3 vs. Southeast Missouri State
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at Arkansas State
Missouri put forth a stifling defensive performance and got solid quarterback play from a pair of passers in an easy first-week victory.
The Tigers held Southeast Missouri State to 191 yards, including only 56 through the air, whiling gaining 407 yards on their end. That included 181 yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Maty Mauk and 138 with a score from freshman QB Drew Lock.
Missouri has won 14 straight season openers, last falling to Bowling Green (then coached by Ohio State's Urban Meyer) in 2001.
20. Tennessee Volunteers
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Average rating: 21.4
Week 1 result: Won 59-30 vs. Bowling Green
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Oklahoma
Tennessee scored its most points since 2009, racking up 604 yards of total offense in a runaway opening victory. But poor defense, particularly against the pass, could lead to trouble this weekend with Oklahoma and its Air Raid coming to Knoxville.
The Volunteers allowed 433 passing yards and two touchdowns to Bowling Green, though over the final 26 minutes they only yielded a field goal while putting up 24 points.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs had 294 yards of total offense and tallied three touchdowns, including 89 rushing yards and a TD. Alvin Kamara and Jalen Hurd combined for 267 yards and five TDs on the ground, part of a 399-yard rushing attack. That's Tennessee's highest rushing total since 1994, per Christopher Smith of Saturday Down South.
18. (tie) Oklahoma Sooners
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Average rating: 17.2
Week 1 result: Won 41-3 vs. Akron
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at Tennessee
Oklahoma's switch to the Air Raid offense produced good results in its first game, although it came at the expense of the Sooners' run game.
Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield threw for 388 yards and three touchdowns on 23-of-33 passing, the best debut for a Sooners quarterback ever, per Bob Przybylo of Scout.com. Ten different players caught passes, with Joe Mixon catching three passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Mixon also ran for 27 yards, but Oklahoma had just 100 yards on 33 carries. Samaje Perine, who ran for 1,700-plus last season, had 33 yards on 11 carries.
Oklahoma's defense allowed 226 yards and limited Akron to 6-of-26 passing.
18. (tie) LSU Tigers
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Average rating: 17.2
Week 1 result: Game vs. McNeese State canceled
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at Mississippi State
LSU missed out on a valuable warm-up game prior to diving right into SEC play, as lightning in and around Baton Rouge kept the Tigers from getting to beat up on an FCS opponent on Saturday.
As a result, sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris' second career start will come on the road against a Mississippi State team that won at LSU last September.
17. Arkansas Razorbacks
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Average rating: 16.8
Week 1 result: Won 48-13 vs. UTEP
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Toledo (in Little Rock, Arkansas)
Arkansas took to the air early and then ground out the rest of the way for an easy opening win, showing what kind of offense the Razorbacks might feature this season with only one 1,000-yard rusher at their disposal.
Quarterback Brandon Allen tossed four first-half touchdown passes, throwing for 308 yards on 14-of-18 passing, while Alex Collins ran for 127 yards and a TD in the absence of injured teammate Jonathan Williams. Last year Collins and Williams, who is out for the year with a foot injury, each topped 1,000 yards.
The Razorbacks had 308 rushing yards and 490 yards of total offense, holding UTEP to 204 yards.
15. (tie) Texas A&M Aggies
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Average rating: 15.6
Week 1 result: Won 38-17 vs. Arizona State (in Houston)
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Ball State
Texas A&M came out on top in the biggest clash of power-conference teams of the opening week, pulling away from Arizona State in the second half behind strong play from all three facets of its team.
Quarterbacks Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray combined for 319 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, Tra Carson ran for 96 yards and a TD and true freshman Christian Kirk had 242 all-purpose yards, including long touchdowns via punt return and reception.
But most impressive was the Aggies defense, with new coordinator John Chavis turning Myles Garrett and others loose to the tune of nine sacks. Garrett had two sacks, while Daeshon Hall took down ASU quarterback Mike Bercovici four times.
The 291 yards allowed are the fewest by A&M against a power-conference opponent since Kevin Sumlin took over as head coach in 2012.
15. (tie) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
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Average rating: 15.6
Week 1 result: Won 69-6 vs. Alcorn State
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Tulane
Georgia Tech's triple-option run game was no match for its FCS opponent, as 13 players combined for 476 yards and nine touchdowns on 52 carries.
The Yellow Jackets had six different players scoring rushing TDs, with Marcus Marshall gaining 184 yards with two TDs on just eight carries, while Stanford transfer Patrick Skov had 72 yards and three TDs.
Quarterback Justin Thomas didn't run much, but he did throw a touchdown pass and ran for a score.
14. UCLA Bruins
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Average rating: 14.2
Week 1 result: Won 34-16 vs. Virginia
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at UNLV
Josh Rosen went from true freshman quarterback with high expectations to a potential phenom in one start, albeit a very productive one in his collegiate debut on Saturday. He threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns on 28-of-35 passing and now is hearing his name thrown into the Heisman Trophy race already.
"True freshman or fifth-year senior, you couldn't ask for a much better first start than the 18-year-old had Saturday against Virginia," Fox Sports' Stewart Mandel wrote, placing him first on his early Heisman ballot.
While Rosen was stellar, running back Paul Perkins was held to 59 yards on 14 carries against a stacked front. Freshman running back Soso Jamabo countered with 79 yards on nine carries.
13. Ole Miss Rebels
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Average rating: 14.0
Week 1 result: Won 76-3 vs. Tennessee-Martin
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Fresno State
Ole Miss gained 662 yards and had its most points in 80 years in the most lopsided result in FBS in the first week.
The Rebels scored on 10 of 13 possessions, including five straight after a punt on their first drive. Chad Kelly started at quarterback, throwing for 211 yards and two touchdowns on 9-of-15 passing. But both Ryan Buchanan (two TD passes) and DeVante Kincade (one TD pass) also had success, and the trio combined for 324 yards through the air.
Jaylen Walton scored on a 60-yard TD run and had two of Ole Miss' five scores on the ground, part of a 338-yard rushing effort.
12. Clemson Tigers
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Average rating: 11.6
Week 1 result: Won 49-10 vs. Wofford
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Appalachian State
Clemson's result was never in doubt against FCS foe Wofford, but what is uncertain is the future of junior wide receiver Mike Williams, who after catching a touchdown on the Tigers' opening possession, struck his head against the padding around the goal post and didn't return.
Williams, who had 1,030 yards and six TDs last season, broke a bone in his neck from the collision and could be out for the season, coach Dabo Swinney said Monday, per the Associated Press' Pete Iacobelli (via Yahoo Sports).
Without Williams, Clemson still rolled offensively. Deshaun Watson threw for 194 yards and two TDs on 18-of-22 passing, Wayne Gallman ran for 92 yards and two scores and the Tigers gained 533 yards.
11. Florida State Seminoles
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Average rating: 11.4
Week 1 result: Won 59-16 vs. Texas State
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. South Florida
The first game of the post-Jameis Winston era involved very little drama for Florida State, as the Seminoles cruised past Texas State behind 302 passing yards and four touchdowns from new quarterback Everett Golson.
Golson, the Notre Dame transfer, completed 19 of 25 passes and went without a turnover for the first time as a starter since early last season. He also avoided trying to extend plays with his legs, taking two sacks and only rushing two others times.
FSU didn't need him to run thanks to a ground game that amassed 266 yards, led by 156 yards and two TDs from Dalvin Cook.
The 636 yards gained by FSU were its most since getting 645 against Idaho in November 2013.
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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Average rating: 9.6
Week 1 result: Won 38-3 vs. Texas
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at Virginia
Notre Dame's offense suffered a major loss to injury, but otherwise the opener was a rousing success on both sides of the ball.
Starting running back Tarean Folston suffered an MCL injury that will require surgery and keep him out for the rest of the year, coach Brian Kelly confirmed Sunday, per Keith Arnold of NBCSports.com. Folston had three carries for 19 yards before getting hurt, and in his absence the tandem of C.J. Prosise and Josh Adams combined for 147 yards and two touchdowns as part of a 214-yard rushing performance.
Malik Zaire was near-perfect at quarterback, completing 19 of 22 passes for 314 yards and three TDs, with Will Fuller catching seven balls for 142 yards and two scores.
Notre Dame's defense was just as solid, holding Texas to 163 yards on 52 plays.
9. Georgia Bulldogs
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Average rating: 8.4
Week 1 result: Won 51-14 vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at Vanderbilt
Even though lightning caused the game to get called with 9:54 left in the fourth quarter, by that point Georgia had more than demonstrated it was in complete control behind a balanced offense paced by new quarterback Greyson Lambert.
Lambert, the Virginia transfer who beat out Brice Ramsey and Faton Bauta for the starting job, threw for 141 yards and two touchdowns on 8-of-12 passing, not needing to do much with the Bulldogs' strong ground game eating up yards.
Nick Chubb was at the forefront of that attack, topping 100 yards for the ninth straight game with 120 yards and two TDs on 16 carries. Keith Marshall added 73 yards and two scores.
8. Michigan State Spartans
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Average rating: 8.2
Week 1 result: Won 37-24 at Western Michigan
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Oregon
In the odd position of opening on the road against a "Group of Five" opponent, Michigan State probably got the best result it could hope for in terms of preparing it for the road ahead. The Spartans were challenged by a feisty but outgunned Western Michigan team, and the flaws that were exposed can give them insight into what to improve before hosting Oregon this weekend.
Michigan State allowed 365 passing yards to the Broncos, though it did intercept a pass in the end zone late to quell any hopes of a comeback. The Spartans held productive running back Jarvion Franklin to 23 yards on eight carries and registered seven sacks, which should bode well for trying to get to Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and slowing down the Ducks' potent run game.
On offense, MSU was efficient but not flashy. Connor Cook was only 15-of-31 but threw two TD passes, while LJ Scott, Madre London and Gerald Holmes combined for 190 rushing yards and three scores.
7. Auburn Tigers
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Average rating: 7.6
Week 1 result: Won 31-24 vs. Louisville (in Atlanta)
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Jacksonville State
The impact new coordinator Will Muschamp had on Auburn's defense was evident in the win over Auburn, especially early on when that unit intercepted a pass to set up a touchdown and returning a fumble for another score. But that same group allowed Louisville to score on all four of its second-half drives, turning what at one point was a 24-0 lead into a much closer game.
The Tigers allowed 405 yards, including 238 on the ground, but Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee noted the biggest improvement came in terms of pressuring the quarterback.
"That defense was helped out by what was Auburn's biggest nemesis a year ago," Sallee wrote. "The Cardinals' quarterbacks and running backs were routinely getting harassed in the backfield in the first half."
Auburn's offense had only 327 yards, with quarterback Jeremy Johnson struggling mightily. He was 11-of-21 for 137 yards and a touchdown but had three interceptions.
6. Oregon Ducks
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Average rating: 7.4
Week 1 result: Won 61-42 vs. Eastern Washington
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 at Michigan State
Vernon Adams Jr. made an impressive debut after transferring from Eastern Washington during the summer, giving Oregon plenty of hope he can perform similar to how Heisman winner Marcus Mariota did at quarterback the last three seasons.
Adams threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-25 passing and added 94 rushing yards before leaving the game after taking a helmet to the head in the fourth quarter. He paced an offense that racked up 731 yards, including 485 rushing yards thanks to 180 (with three touchdowns) from Royce Freeman.
While Oregon's offense showed no rust from he offense, its defense has a lot of work to do before facing Michigan State on Saturday. The Ducks allowed 549 yards to Eastern Washington, including 438 through the air.
"The biggest thing I saw was not finishing," Oregon defensive coordinator Don Pellum told Andrew Greif of The Oregonian. "Obviously you're going to miss tackles but how are you going to compensate for that? Got to have another guy there. I didn't see enough of that."
5. USC Trojans
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Average rating: 7.2
Week 1 result: Won 55-6 vs. Arkansas State
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Idaho
USC's talent boom the last few recruiting cycles was on full display in a romp over Arkansas State, with veterans and newcomers all contributing to a dominant performance.
According to Kyle Kensing of CFBHuddle.com, the Trojans played 13 true freshmen to help bolster a lineup that also featured stars from the senior, junior and sophomore classes.
Senior quarterback Cody Kessler threw for 236 yards and four touchdowns on 19-of-26 passing, connecting with four different players for scores and 11 receivers altogether. Tre Madden had 106 rushing yards and TDs both on the ground and through the air, and freshmen running backs Ronald Jones II and Aca'Cedric Ware also scored on the ground.
USC's defense forced four turnovers.
4. Baylor Bears
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Average rating: 4.2
Week 1 result: Won 56-21 at SMU
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Lamar
There's nothing wrong with Baylor's offense—that much was evident as the Bears needed less than 50 seconds to score their first touchdown and racked up 723 yards of offense. But some defensive struggles—partly due to the absence of two suspended starters—could prove to be a concern against opponents that are much better than SMU.
The Bears led only 28-21 at halftime, giving up a long passing touchdown to the Mustangs on their first offensive play and allowing SMU quarterback Matt Davis to run for 115 yards along with his 166 passing yards. Baylor's defense stiffened in the second half, though, shutting SMU out over the final 39 minutes that included a goal-line stand just before halftime.
Seth Russell threw for 376 yards and five TDs, three to Jay Lee, and added a rushing TD.
3. TCU Horned Frogs
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Average rating: 3.2
Week 1 result: Won 23-17 at Minnesota
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Stephen F. Austin
TCU held off a scrappy Minnesota team on the road to earn a key nonconference victory, one that won't gain the Horned Frogs many style points but will still prove valuable for playoff positioning later in the year.
The Frogs were held to their lowest point total since November 2013, though Trevone Boykin did amass 338 yards of total offense with a passing and rushing touchdown. Boykin ran for 92 yards and Aaron Green added 88, but the Frogs only managed two TDs on five trips to the red zone.
Last season, the Horned Frogs averaged 6.68 yards per play, 11th nationally, but on Saturday, they managed 5.22 per play," wrote Zac Ellis of Sports Illustrated. "Boykin and TCU should use their next two games against Stephen F. Austin and SMU to find a rhythm on offense."
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
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Average rating: 2.2
Week 1 result: Won 35-17 vs. Wisconsin (in Arlington, Texas)
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Middle Tennessee
Alabama had a successful, if not spectacular, debut in a sold win over Wisconsin, getting good production from quarterback Jake Coker and hard running from Derrick Henry to put away the Badgers.
Coker, who won the QB battle over Cooper Bateman and Alec Morris, threw for 213 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-21 passing. Henry was the offensive star, though, rushing for 147 yards and three TDs, including a 56-yard score, while Kenyan Drake's 43-yard TD run helped the Crimson Tide rush for 238 yards.
Alabama's defense stifled the Wisconsin run game, holding it to 40 yards on 21 carries and keeping Corey Clement in check.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
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Average rating: 1.4
Week 1 result: Won 42-24 at Virginia Tech
Week 2 opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Hawaii
For almost eight months we've wondered how the 2015 version of Ohio State would look like compared to the one from last season that lost at home to Virginia Tech and then ended up winning 14 straight and claiming a national title with a third-string quarterback.
On Monday night we got our answer, and it's pretty much the same Buckeyes as the last time we saw them, though with some players at different positions.
"In the immortal words of Dennis Green, they are who we thought they were," wrote Dan Wolken of USA Today.
Cardale Jones ended up beating out J.T. Barrett for the starting QB job, and while he had some mistakes he was also very effective in amassing 285 yards of total offense and accounting for three touchdowns. And Braxton Miller, now a receiver, had 140 all-purpose yards and scored TDs on a reception and a run.
The Buckeyes had 572 yards on 56 offensive plays, yet they also trailed 17-14 at the half after turning it over twice in the first two quarters. Then they scored 28 straight points to up their win streak to 15 and put their only major on-field challenge until November in the rearview mirror.
All statistics courtesy of CFBStats.com.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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