The second week of the college football season means some teams begin conference play, while others try to sharpen their resumes against tough non-conference opponents. Of course, there are games between power conference teams and low-level programs with the hopes of fine-tuning their skills in preparation for the grueling season that lies ahead. Regardless of the opponent, each team better bring their A-game week-in and week-out if they want to have a chance to make the 2015 college football playoff.
Let’s take a look at some of the most notable aspects from the past weekend in college football.
10. Interim HC Bill Cubit begins Illinois career at 2-0
After Illinois fired former head coach Tim Beckman following allegations of player misconduct, Bill Cubit was asked to take over a week before the 2015 season began. Although the actions were justified, firing a coach a week before your first game is almost unheard of. Nevertheless, Cubit has made the most of it. His Fighting Illini have completely destroyed their opponents in the first two weeks by a margin of 96-3. Yes, they were non-power teams (Kent State and Western Illinois), but it is still impressive considering the drama that has unfolded in Champaign the last few weeks.
9. Kentucky ends 22-game road losing streak
The tricky part about this game is determining the headline. Is it South Carolina flopping after an extended week of preparation and a huge win against North Carolina? Or is it Kentucky’s first SEC road win in six years? It has to be Kirk Herbstreit’s son predicting the upset live on “SportsCenter.” Either way, Steve Spurrier cannot be happy with the outcome, especially considering his starting QB Connor Mitch went down with a shoulder injury late in the second quarter. Three rushing touchdowns by three different Kentucky players and a 98-yard return on a failed 2-point conversion allowed Mark Stoops’ Wildcats to put a win in the away column.
8. Ole Miss continues to light up the scoreboard
Some people may think this is another case of an SEC team simply beating up on inferior opponents, but it is starting to look like the Rebels are for real. After dismantling Tennessee-Martin 76-3 in their opener, Ole Miss put up more basketball numbers in a 73-21 victory over Fresno State on Saturday. Rebels QB Chad Kelly connected with Quincy Adeboyejo for three of his four touchdown passes in the win, while the defense returned two interceptions to the house. The bad news is cornerback Tee Shepard was ejected from this game and will be forced to miss the first half against No. 2 Alabama next week.
7. Michigan rebounds for Jim Harbaugh’s first win as HC
It was the first game at the big house for the head coach of the Wolverines, and the return of former-Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen. Andersen’s Oregon State Beavers started strong, scoring the first touchdown of the game to take an early 7-0 lead in Ann Arbor. Michigan followed with 35 unanswered points led by running back De’Veon Smith, who had 126 yards and a career-high 3 touchdowns in their 35-7 win.
6. Michigan State holds off Oregon in College GameDay classic
Marcus Mariota’s incumbent Vernon Adams Jr. led No. 7 Oregon into East Lansing in his first true test as the Ducks’ quarterback. NFL prospect Connor Cook and the No. 5 Spartans were prepared for an all-out battle in Saturday’s primetime game. Michigan State took a 24-14 lead into the fourth quarter before the Ducks began to climb back into it. The Spartans led 31-28 late in the game, when Oregon began marching down the field. Adams dropped back on a critical third down and was sacked to put the Ducks out of field goal range. Adams’ fourth down throw fell to the turf as Michigan State was able to hold on. Good news for Oregon is a dynamic playmaker emerged this game. Bralon Addison finished with 138 receiving yards and an electrifying 81-yard punt return for a touchdown.
