Sunday, September 2, 2018

College football scores

College football scores, winners & losers in Week 1: Alabama upgrades at QB, Texas stumbles again

The 2018 season is officially back. Games have been played. There have been winners. There have been losers. 
So guess what else is back?
The entire Week 1 might not be over -- there's still college football on Sunday and Monday -- but nearly all of the opening games are in the books. From dominating performances by Alabama and Oklahoma to another disappointing start for Texas and UCLA, there are a lot of storylines to get to.
With that in mind, it's time to take a step back and digest everything that's happened through the first three days of Week 1.

Winners

Alabama: Imagine, if you will, what Ferris Bueller must have felt when he got behind the wheel of Cameron's dad's 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California. That's how I like to think Alabama coach Nick Saban felt when he realized he could use a quarterback like Tua Tagovailoa. Prior to last season, Saban had already won five national championships (four with Alabama) primarily because he recruits enough blue-chip players to make those runs every year. To that point, though, he's won those titles without a true difference-maker at quarterback. No longer. Tagovailoa started Saturday's 51-14 win over Louisville and unquestionably is the guy for Alabama's offense. He can do everything Jalen Hurts does as a runner and a passer, and then some. He and receiver DeVonta Smith might be the most exciting television in the SEC. So just think: Alabama was molly-whopping opponents on the regular anyway. Now it's going to be a whole helluva a lot more fun watching them do it. 
Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush: The progression Wimbush has made as a passer from last season to Saturday night's opener against Michigan is night and day. Wimbush has always been a tremendous runner, but his development throwing the ball downfield is what should take the Irish's offense to a completely new level. His numbers (12 of 22, 170 yards, TD, INT) don't do his performance justice. His ability to evade Michigan's pressure (which was frequent) keep his composure and his eyes downfield, and deliver a more accurate strike was on display. He had help from wideouts courtesy of some spectacular catches, but this was a positive step forward in a 24-17 Irish win.
Appalachian State coach Scott Satterfield: The Mountaineers may not have beat Penn State in Happy Valley, and that's what Satterfield wanted more than anything. But the 45-38 loss did one thing: It put more eyeballs on Satterfield and his team. A casual observer may remark that Appalachian State has been in this position before -- 11 years ago to the day against Michigan. And yes, App State has a brand as a giant killer. However, this was one of the least experienced teams not only in the Sun Belt, but in the country, per Phil Steele. And they almost beat Penn State on the road. Satterfield is 37-15 starting his fifth season in Boone. He's flown under the radar for bigger jobs, but he'll get a harder look now. Whether or not he takes those opportunities, he's earned them. 


Stanford wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside: It was Arcega-Whiteside, not Bryce Love, starring in No. 13 Stanford's 31-10 win over San Diego State. This is using statistics selectively, but Arcega-Whiteside's 11-to-6 catch-to-touchdown ratio in his past two games dating back to last year's Alamo Bowl is comically high. He's officially a problem. His best catch wasn't even one of his three scores. San Diego State could have been Group of Five, Power Five or The Jackson 5 and it wouldn't have mattered. There's almost nothing you can do about a human giant who, at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, can fight through any defense to latch on to a football. The catch-to-touchdown ratio will drop (... right?) but if he keeps this up, he's going to be must-watch television. 

Losers

Texas coach Tom Herman: You could put the blame of Texas' loss to Maryland on offensive coordinator Tim Beck. More on that 34-29 defeat here. Is that really solving the problem, though? Herman wouldn't even say for sure this is Beck's offense. "We'll all be calling plays on offense," Herman told reporters this week. Herman needs direction, and he needs it fast. He is, after all, an offensive guy by trade. If all else fails, Texas should be good at that. And if that means taking over for the rest of the season and making this his offense? Fine. If it means firing Beck, so be it. Texas may still rebound this year, but the earliest it can re-establish an identity, again, is 2019. That will be Year 3 for Herman. That's not when you establish identities. 
Chip Kelly's debut: The Kelly era at UCLA won't be defined by what happens in Week 1 of Year 1, but Lord in heaven, is losing to Cincinnati at home 26-17 a bad look. There are some positives, of course. Running back Kazmeir Allen is a speed demon and just the type of skill guy Kelly needs to pull off those explosive plays. The defense was good enough to win, too. However, Michigan transfer Wilton Speight couldn't move the offense and Dorian Thompson-Robinson wasn't much better. There are few sure-fire wins on the schedule and this was supposed to be one of them. Getting to a bowl might have been tough for Kelly in Year 1, but it's clear he has a ways to go with this squad. 

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