Winner: Dylan Raiola’s Patrick Mahomes cosplay
Is getting a similar haircut, wearing the same clothes and mimicking the mannerisms of his training partner Mahomes a bit strange? Probably. But there’s no denying that freshman quarterback Dyland Raiola has the Cornhuskers rolling. With Nebraska 2-0 and Raiola creating sidearm magic, irresponsible comparisons are coming. I can almost hear Cris Collinsworth going “Now here’s a guy who reminds me of Number 15 down in Kansas City” already.
Loser: NBC holding Boise State vs. Oregon hostage
This game had everything: Boise State junior running back Ashton Jeanty continuing his Heisman campaign, Oregon officially being placed on fraud watch, multiple return touchdowns and even a DeSean Jackson-esque-dropping-the-ball-before-the-end-zone controversy. However, most of the nation missed the Ducks trotting out junior kicker Atticus Sappington to kick the game-winning field goal as time expired because NBC’s streaming service Peacock kept it behind a paywall. Let the people see their football, you cowards.
Winner: Bowling Green keeping it close
The Falcons put the nation on notice, keeping it close for a majority of the game with No. 8 Penn State. Marching into Happy Valley and leading the Nittany Lions until the fourth quarter is no easy feat. Future opponents — including Texas A&M — should be cautious of Bowling Green.
Loser: Eastern Kentucky got its karma
Everybody loves white-out games. Eastern Kentucky, apparently, does not. After refusing to let Western Kentucky wear white at home, the Colonels learned it does not matter what you wear on the field when you don’t have the game to back it up. If you are going to ruin a tradition, prepare for karma come game day.
Winner: Huskies, howl away
Oh, Northern Illinois, my beloved. Stand up, Huskies, and bask in the glory of securing your first win against a top-10 team in program history.
My go-to team for a rebuild in NCAA 14 has finally done it and shocked the world. Through the ups and downs, the program has stuck with coach Thomas Hammock, and it’s finally paid off. The cherry on top? Defeating No. 5 Notre Dame, who was supposed to have an easy schedule and a walk to the College Football Playoff.
Seeing Hammock with passionate tears after the game too? Moving stuff for the underdog — or underhusky — team.
Loser – Cade McNamara against his school’s biggest rival
Against your school’s biggest rival Iowa State, for the Cy-Hawk trophy and being up big for the majority of the game? It was all but a sure victory for the then-No. 21 Iowa Hawkeyes. But little did they know, the Hawkeyes were playing 10 against 12 as senior QB Cade McNamara was secretly playing with a Cyclones jersey.
Iowa had all the momentum but throws across the body, and bad reads contributed to a 13-for-29 and two-interception day that breathed life into an Iowa State comeback. On top of that? McNamara didn’t even break 100 yards while his teammate junior RB Kaleb Johnson had one of the best games of his career with 187 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Winner – Syracuse
After a Week 1 win over the Ohio Bobcats, one of the best teams in the Mid-American Conference last season, Syracuse carried its momentum into an upset over No. 23 Georgia Tech, 31-28.
Senior QB Kyle McCord led the Orange to a win with four touchdown passes and 381 yards, completing 32 of his 46 attempts. His top receiver, junior tight end Oronde Gadsden II, went off for 93 receiving yards and two touchdown grabs on only six receptions.
While the Yellow Jackets started hot in Ireland with a top-ten win over Florida State, Georgia Tech may soon be looking at an Atlantic Coast Conference controlled by the Orange.
Loser: ESPN College Gameday (for allowing Lee Corso to appear on air)
Everyone in the College Football landscape has massive respect for one of the best on-air analysts and broadcasters of all time, Lee Corso. However, in recent Gameday appearances, the question of whether Corso is still mentally and physically able to appear on camera in front of millions has been brought into further discussion.
No one can deny the legendary status of the Sports Media Hall of Famer, but now is the time for College Gameday to make the difficult decision to retire the 89 year old from his days in front of a camera.
