Biggest Surprises and Letdowns From Week 1 College Football

Week one is over; finally, the greatest sport in the world is back. We saw teams like LSU and Miami live up to their billing. What about the teams that gave us a startle in week one, for better or worse? There’s plenty of those too as we look at who shocked us and let us down in week one. Here are the biggest surprises and letdowns from Week 1 in College Football.

Surprises

UMass

Yeah, who saw that coming? Not only was UMass on a 16-game losing streak, but they were on a 23-game losing streak to FBS teams and had never beaten a Power Five program since they moved up to FBS in 2012. Yet if you watched the Minutemen vs Rutgers Thursday night, you would have never thought that. After spotting Rutgers a 7-0 lead, UMass took over the rest of the way in a decisive 37-21 win. Quarterback William “Pop” Watson III gave a nice pop to the boys from Amherst with as many touchdowns as incompletions. What stood out most to me, however, was UMass’s physicality—running for almost five yards a carry and five sacks. To do that as a G6 team against a P4 team, even if it is Rutgers, is still hard to come by in modern college football.

Western Michigan

It’s been a couple of days, and I still don’t know what to say. The Broncos got robbed, no way around it. They outplayed Michigan all game and deserved to win. I still have no idea how they put time back on the clock. Yeah, the Big Ten explained the situation, but make no mistake: if the roles were reversed, that wouldn’t have happened, and no way would they have added the second back to begin with.

Looking at how the Broncos played now, no shame, nothing to hang their heads about, as they clearly established themselves as a G6 contender for the CFP. The biggest surprise, and I know that might be saying a lot, is how Western Michigan has handled this. If I were the head coach or AD, I’d be livid, but the Broncos have handled it with grace and humility; I tip my cap to them. Make no mistake, Western Michigan is America’s Team this year.

Florida

I was optimistic Florida would be good this year. I didn’t know the fun-n-gun would be back. Granted, it was FAU, but they lost to USF in a similar spot last year. Plus, we’ve seen the purgatory Florida has been in since the show throw. It was pick your poison for the Gators. Have Aaron Philo light it up through the air or have preseason All-SEC tailback Jaden Baugh pound it on the ground. Head coach Jon Sumrall praised the offense but did point out some defensive concerns. After dealing with Sun Belt Billy Napier, a coach with some teeth is a nice change. A welcome sight for Gators fans to finally see a team and, more importantly, a coach finally give them a reason for optimism again.

Disappointments

Oklahoma State

I was really high on the Pokes, man. Head coach Eric Morris and quarterback Drew Mestemaker from North Texas would light it up, as Lane Kiffin does on social media. If you were to lose to an in-state rival in a shootout with that offensive pedigree is one thing, but to look that bad offensively while doing so is really concerning. It’s the first time since the 1950s the Cowboys have lost consecutive games to Tulsa. For a team poised as a Big 12 contender, that big egg they laid in week one has come back to my face; the Pokes don’t look good.

Michigan

Oh my God, Michigan, you suck. This sums up my reactions throughout the game Saturday night. Then they put a second back on the clock, and the refs bailed them out. Disgraceful. I’m not sure where that one second came from, but Michigan has a reputation for these sorts of things. The biggest disappointment from the maize and blue has to be them storming the field. First off, you storm it after a fraudulent win. Not only that, but you’re the winningest team in CFB history, and you do this against a G6 school at home; it just makes you look like a bush league.

Texas Tech

They struggled more vs Abilene Christian than they should have. Sure, the Red Raiders won by 23, but when we see teams like Penn State pitch a shutout vs. an FBS team, and Kansas State in conference but up 70, Tech’s performance vs an FCS school becomes lackluster.

East Carolina

I really thought the Pirates would at least cover the spread or make Bama sweat the first half, especially with the Tide breaking in a new QB; I was wrong. I could list a laundry list of stats or say it’s Alabama; you should have expected it. Instead, I’ll leave one stat: ECU 22 carries for 2 rushing yards on the day.

Clemson

In the prime era of me becoming a college football fan, Clemson was atop the world. The only school that could muster consistent wins vs the evil empire of Saban’s Alabama teams. Oh, how long ago that feels. I didn’t think Clemson would win, but not showing up at all is stunning. It feels like each year Clemson will stop falling, but somehow they keep dropping lower and lower into despair. Few coaches last 19 years at a school like Dabo has, but eventually the exits come. Most times they’re unceremonious, and that feels like where Dabo and Clemson are heading.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Matthew Bakken
Contributor | Game Day Collective
@mattbakken18