Week 1 College Review

I have decided to tweak how I do my rankings from last year (and fully intend to follow through for the entire season). For the first month of the season (roughly four weeks) I will only release the four teams I believe will make it to the college playoff. Once October begins I will continue with the playoff out look and then do a top 20 of the rest. In other words you will see the four for the playoff and then the team that starts number 1 of my poll would be 5th in other polls. You will get a clearer picture in October.

One more thing about the playoff teams. I am not ranking them at this time. I will do so closer to the end of the season, but for now I am just showing the four teams that are in the playoff.

Onto the playoff picture

Playoff Team 1

Alabama

Alabama took what had been a mostly close game against Florida State and blew the doors open in the 2nd half. The defense looks as good as last year, the special teams will once again be as good or not better than last year. While Clemson, and defending National Champion, is the team to beat, Alabama made a statement in it's first win that they are not to be taken lightly.

Alabama's next game is against Fresno State. For a few years Fresno State was the team that no one wanted to play. Now, it is an after thought for teams playing them. Do not expect a close game.

Playoff Team 2

Clemson

With Alabama playing in what is considered the best Season 1 match-up of all time, Clemson was playing a preparation game for this weeks game. They easily dispatched Kent State and look to be fine at QB for this year. One reason I do not like to rank during the early season is because of the cup cake games. You simply do not get a good idea of what a team is going to do.

Clemson gets a better test this week with Auburn. Auburn looks to be the 2nd best team in the SEC this year, so an earlier season tilt against the National Champion will show where both teams are standing.

Playoff Team 3

Ohio State

Ohio State looked absolutely horrible in the 1st half against Indiana. This is actually a trend in the Ohio State-Indiana game as for some reason Indiana always seems prepared in the 1st half while Ohio State always looks like they are still asleep. In fact, at halftime Indiana was up on the Buckeyes 14-13. A 36-7 second half from Ohio State made the game look like it should have.

Ohio State gets Oklahoma this week. It is an intriguing match-up that has first year coach Lincoln Riley bringing a stacked Sooner team to town looking for revenge after last year's embarrassing blow out at home. Oklahoma currently has the longest winning streak in the nation at 11 with their last loss being to Ohio State.

Playoff Team 4

Washington

Washington started slow against Rutgers leading 10-7 at halftime before a 20-7 2nd half run blew the doors wide open. Maybe the team was jetlagged in the 1st half after traveling from Washington across the nation to New Jersey for the game. The Huskies are the class of the Pac 12 and look to be in good position to sneak into the playoffs.

Washington's next game is a snoozer against Montana.

Two Dark Horses (both from Oklahoma)

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are both going to be on the outside looking in most of the season, but they may be the two best teams outside of the playoffs. With Oklahoma playing Ohio State this week, Oklahoma will get in the playoff picture if they pull off the upset. There is a good chance that we will see two Bedlam games this year as it looks entirely possible that Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will meet for the Big 12 Championship game (a week after their first match-up).

Best of Week 1

Kevin Sumlin's seat is on fire after Texas A&M's epic collapse against UCLA. Leading 44-10 in the 3rd quarter it looked like another fast start for a Texas A&M team. The Aggies, under Sumlin, typically start the season out 5-0 or 4-1 before a mid season collapse. The final score of the game was a UCLA win 45-44. There is no rhyme or reason to the collapse. Yes the Aggies lost their starting quarterback so that explains why the Aggies did not score any more points. However, that does not explain how a defense that had only allowed 10 points through roughly 3 quarters and was harassing UCLAs quarterback suddenly could not stop a cold. To look at it another way in order for UCLA to mount and complete a comeback they would have to score essentially every 4 minutes of game clock.

It was the best comeback I have ever seen and a great way to start the season for college fans.

Worst of Week 1

There are two for this one

In the late stages of the Florida State-Alabama game Florida State QB Deondre Francois went down with what looked like at the time with a serious leg injury. Flash forward to late yesterday and the injury was as bad as it looked. It came out that he had a patellar tendon tear and would need surgery to repair it. He is out for the season. For a young man who came back for another season to complete unfinished business this a blow to him. For Florida State, barring an Ohio State-like miracle, this looks like the end of any potential championship run. Yes they lost to Alabama, but with the loss happening in the first week of the season there was every reason to believe that they would be able to fight their way back into the playoffs. Now, that looks like a pipe dream.

Nebraska 43, Arkansas 36

There is no way that Husker fans can come away from this game feeling confident. This should have been a blow out for the Huskers. However Arkansas State stayed with them throughout the first half only trailing 27-26. Nebraska finally got some breathing room in the 3rd as they were able to blank the Wolves in the 3rd. Arkansas state outscored them 10-9 in the 4th quarter to make it close again. Yes it is a win, but Nebraska's defense looked absolutely atrocious. These are not the black shirts of the Big 12. Their next game is this week AT Oregon. Fortunately they have Wisconsin and Ohio State at home but have to travel to Penn State. If they can fix their defensive issues they should have a decent season. If not, Husker fans should be ready for a long season.

Most Intriguing Games of Week 2

Oklahoma at Ohio State

Last season this was seen as the best game of the early season but turned into a blowout win for Ohio State in Norman. Football lovers hope this year's match-up in Columbus is much better. Oklahoma wins and they control their own destiny for the rest of the season. Oklahoma loses and they have to fight their way back into the playoff picture. A huge test for first time coach Lincoln Riley.

Auburn at Clemson

This is a great test for both teams. Clemson has a chance to cement their run for back-to-back national championships while Auburn has a chance to get their name in the playoff conversation. The ACC looked like it was going to be between Clemson and Florida State. With Florida State already losing their first game if Clemson loses to Auburn the ACC could be outside looking after Week 2 of the season. The SEC looks to be a two team race between Alabama and Auburn. If Auburn loses this game close and does not lose again until the Alabama game and pick up a win they could find themselves right back in the playoff picture.

Miami(FL) at Arkansas State

What makes this game intriguing is that Arkansas State nearly pulled off the upset at Nebraska in Week 1 and this week they are hosting the Hurricanes. This will be the biggest game in Jonesboro of all time. If Arkansas State is not suffering a headache from the Nebraska game they could pull of the upset against Miami. Here is to hoping.