College Football: What We Learned from Week 1

Week 1 of the 2011 College Football is officially in the books and much was learned.

While we still have no lock on who could be playing in the Championship Game, Heisman candidates and BCS busters revealed themselves, giving us a preview of what is going to be a great season after a long summer of controversy.

The Pac-12 Has a Long Way to Go

The Pac-12, without a doubt, had the most embarrassing opening weekend of it's inaugural season.

The Conference combined for a sub-par 8-4 record, to go along with four teams struggling against FCS foes, including Oregon State losing at home to Sac State.

The only teams I can tip my hat to are Cal, Stanford, Arizona State, Arizona and Oregon. Stanford and the two Arizona schools both easily dominated their lesser competition while Cal outplayed a competitive Fresno State team. My hat goes off to Oregon only because they scheduled a tough SEC foe and weren't demolished.

Washington, Utah and Washington State all played sub-par against FCS foes while UCLA and Colorado lost to Houston and Hawaii respectively.

The Pac-12 has a long way to go if they wish to become a power conference.

Michigan Is This Year's BCS Buster...

In Brady Hoke's Michigan debut, the Wolverines easily beat Western Michigan 34-10.

Denard Robinson looked comfortable in a new, more pro-style offense, and the defense dominated from the start scoring two touchdowns.

With a not too difficult schedule in Nebraska and Ohio State visiting the Big House at the end of the year, look for Michigan to be one of the Big Ten favorites this year.

...As Is Baylor

In possibly the performance of the year, Robert Griffin III led Baylor to an upset win over 14th ranked TCU.

Griffin completed 21-of-27 passing fro 359 yards and 5 TDs, against a Gary Patterson defense. That is no easy feat.

A dual-threat quarterback, Griffins performance threw his name into Heisman contention and has a great shot of leading Baylor to the Big 12 Championship.

Granted Baylor's defense isn't the greatest, Texas Tech was able to bust the BCS primarily on offense.

LSU Should Play for the National Title

Now there is something you should all know before you read what I have to say. I am a HUGE Oregon Ducks fan.

Hours after dismantling the Ducks offense, after my anger had simmered, I had to admire what LSU had done. They had defeated a Top 5 team and kept Oregon's potent offense from going anywhere.

Yes, they scored 20 points off of Duck fumbles, but their offensive line opened up holes and allowed LSU to have two 90+ yard rushers. Most of those yards were gained up the middle.

If Jarrett Lee continues to improve, everyone should have November 5th circled on their calendars. That is the day LSU travels to Tuscaloosa to take on current No. 2 ranked Alabama.

Good game and good luck LSU.

The Big Ten Made the Jump to Super Conference

Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State all have an equal shot at winning the Big Ten title and playing for the National Championship.

Nebraska has a great rushing attack with Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead. Throw Jared Crick on the defensive line in and you have the chance to do something great.

Wisconsin now has a passing attack to go along with James White and Montee Ball after adding quarterback Russell Wilson.

Michigan was already talked about in a previous slide.

Michigan State, led by Kirk Cousins, has a nice shot at throwing off the entire conference again.

Ohio State will be competitive again once they regain their players from suspension.

Throw in competitive teams such as Illinois and Northwestern and the Big Ten is catching up with the SEC.

Who Bethune-Cookman and Prairie View A&M Are...

No comment needed here.

The U Is Hanging on Life Suport

Couple a controversial offseason with multiple player suspensions, a new head coach and now an opening week loss, that doesn't make for a great program.

Yes, new head coach Al Golden has the chance to turn things around, but The U is slowly dying. Maryland easily dominated them and the worst is yet to come.

Miami has not been to a BCS bowl since 2004 and things haven't been getting any better.

And I apologize to all Hurricane fans, I can't imagine what this feels like and I hope The U can survive this one.

Boise State Is Still in the Nation's Elite

Scheduling a ranked opponent three years in a row is a dangerous thing for a Non-AQ school.

Apparently not for Boise State.

Kellen Moore was extraordinary against the 19th ranked Georgia Bulldogs and is keeping the Broncos in BCS contention for the fourth straight year.

With an easy schedule remaining after Baylor's dismantling of the Horned Frog defense, the Broncos should easily win their game against TCU down the road.

Oregon Doesn't Have the Nation's Ugliest Uniforms Anymore...

...Maryland does.

I mean really?