With just the Battle of the Techs left to be played this evening, we've all but come to the end of an eventful opening weekend in the college football world.
I realize that everyone is just happy to be watching actual games again, but has anyone checked out the slate for this weekend? Pretty lackluster, and that's coming off of the usual slew of mind-numbing paycheck games in Week One. Are consumers ever going to start demanding better?
Anyway, here are a few of the stories we'll be monitoring this week:
Missouri, Texas A&M debut in the SEC
Awful introductory videos aside, Mizzou and the Aggies formally introduce themselves to their new conference mates this weekend. Is it possible that the programs might be too geeked up for their first games in the SEC?
Keep an eye on the rhetoric coming out of both camps this week for signs that both programs are maybe just a little too jacked to being playing with the big boys.
(Hey, remember the fanfare of Colorado’s first Pac-12 game? Yeah, me neither.)
How will Alabama’s domination of Michigan influence the pollsters?
Although the unfortunate trend in college football has been going away from big games to start the season, one of the advantages of a high-profile matchup in the opener is the chance to make an early impression. As they have become accustomed to doing in these “[Insert Sponsor] Kickoff Classic” games, the Crimson Tide did just that against the Wolverines.
It was the kind of performance that might just vault ‘Bama to the top spot in both major polls.
More problems with the NCAA for USC?
The new evidence hinting at further improprieties at Southern Cal, this time involving ex-running back Joe McKnight, got somewhat buried by the weekend’s action.
The Trojan athletic department has vowed to investigate the matter further, but, honestly, don’t expect too much to come from this.
Out of synch, or a sign of things to come?
A handful of big-name squads gave listless performances in their season openers – looking at you, Wisconsin, Florida and Oklahoma. Were these perennial powers simply trying to work out some of the kinks in their first games, or is there cause for alarm in places like Norman and Gainesville?
We should have a better idea about at least a few after Saturday. For example, Wisconsin travels to Corvallis for a tricky game with Mike Riley's Beavers. Florida will be in College Station, of course, to take on A&M.
The early Heisman push
You know it’s never too early to get the Heisman hype machine going. Hell, it has been in full swing since the award was handed out a year ago – it never stops.
Now that we’ve actually got some results to go on, Le’Veon Bell and Geno Smith can expect to see their names higher on the watch lists. The same goes for Marquise Lee, who could even pilfer some votes from teammate Matt Barkley.
