A Tribute to BYU-Coastal Carolina

Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina

For much of the spring and summer, the reality of 2020 put the possibility of a college football season in doubt. Would the season even be able to get off the ground and if it did, would it be able to finish? We aren't out of the woods just yet, but in a year filled with uncertainties it looks like we will be able to crown a National Champion. Nothing about 2020 has been easy, and that holds true for college football, where delayed games and cancellations have become an unfortunate theme. However, on a cool Saturday night in December, 2020 did give us something magical: BYU versus Coastal Carolina. Both teams played a hard-fought, chaotic game that ended up with Coastal Carolina squeaking out a program-defining victory. The game might not even mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things with regards to the National Championship race, but it was a reminder of many of the things that make college sports great, and gives us important lessons about the future of college football.

The most amazing thing about the BYU-Coastal Carolina matchup was the fact it was not supposed to happen. The Chanticleers were previously scheduled against Liberty, a team having a tremendous 2020 season of their own. However, due to COVID issues at Liberty, Coastal acted quickly to set up a matchup with the 9-0 BYU Cougars. Within the span of just a few days, the Chanticleers had switched opponents, and the Cougars were all of the sudden making a trip across the country to the Southeast. Give credit to both these athletic directors for figuring it out, but also having the guts to make the game happen. Many others in their shoes simply might not do it, or work as hard as they did to put it on. BYU in particular would've been fine sitting on the sidelines for another week, but they instead choose to go up against a tremendous Group of Five foe. My hope is that this type of scheduling flexibility and this forward thinking is not just a 2020 thing. Athletic directors and administrators should understand that being flexible is key to putting a good product on the field, and providing matchups fans want to see. Sure, it's more difficult for coaches and players to not necessarily know their opponent far in advance, but such is the reality of the times. 

To even be able to see this one play out was a win for the college football fan, but it was particularly awesome how the sixty minutes played out. The atmosphere in Conway, South Carolina was about as good as you'll see anywhere for a college football game, with many Coastal fans rocking a now legendary "Mormons vs. Mullets" shirt. The fans all seemed to be having the time of their lives, and the players echoed that out on the field. You could tell they fed off that energy, particularly late in the game when things were tight. There's something to be said for how much this was needed for so many people. It has been such a rough year even for the most optimistic of individuals, but this game gave an opportunity for thousands of fans to cheer on the team they love in the biggest game of college football history. There's something magical about that, and I don't think it should be taken for granted. No matter what else is going on in these fans' lives, for a few hours on a Saturday night, all of that was forgotten. The power of sports is a magical thing, and something much needed in the year 2020.

The product on the field wasn't so bad either. BYU is led by a Heisman-contending QB almost sure to go in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and Zach Wilson didn't disappoint. Despite facing down a very underrated Coastal defense, he was sharp and put his team in a position to win the football game. On the other side, the Chanticleers did a tremendous job of feeding off the emotion of the game, but still playing in a controlled matter. This game ended up getting chippy, especially towards the end of the second half. It easily could have gotten out of hand, but credit should be given not only to the referees but also the players. It's possible to play with emotion and passion and not get completely out of hand. Also, if you question how much these players care about these games, this game should've answered it. These two teams have absolutely no history together, and yet it still had the feel of a rivalry game. Again, this game probably won't even make that big of an impact in the National Championship picture but you couldn't tell from the atmosphere on the field. If you didn't know it was simply a non-conference battle between two ranked teams, you'd think it was either a massive rivalry game or some sort of championship game.

To say this game may have an impact on the future of college football may seem hyperbolic to some, but consider this: the possibility of a Group of Five Playoff of its own. The Group of Five has obviously been disenfranchised by a Playoff system that essentially punishes them for being smaller schools or brands. This is especially confusing when we consider that Group of Five schools often have just as rabid fanbases as the Power Five, and that they've held their own in New Year's Six bowls against P5 foes (2014 Boise, 2015 Houston, 2017 UCF all beat Power Five teams). The reality of the current Playoff system is that unless it expands, Group of Five programs may realize they need their own system to create some form of adequate national representation. Ideas of a Group of Five Playoff of its own have been thrown around more as pipe dreams than serious proposals, but this game may help the idea gain more actual traction. The common arguments against the idea are about money, and whether people would actually watch. I understand the concerns about money and labor involved particularly in the world we live in today, but to think people wouldn't watch? This relatively meaningless game between two teams without significant ties to each other captivated the college football universe on ESPNU in the middle of the day. Can you imagine meaningful matchups between teams competing for a championship, strategically placed at relative dead times in the football calendar? The one truth about football is that people will watch it, especially the rabid college football fans that would watch a pair of JUCO teams go up against each other if it was the only football on. I'm not saying this hypothetical GO5 Playoff would be perfect, but momentum seems to be rolling towards it, as the current Playoff system continues to ignore the prospect of expansion. If you don't understand why, simply look at how big of a business college football has become. To think that administrators, athletic directors, and other power-brokers don't see a money-making possibility here is ludicrous. 

Perhaps five years from now, BYU-Coastal Carolina will be forgotten about in the grand narrative of college football. The ideas of a Group of Five Playoff remain mainly just pipe dreams, and even if this game may help develop some momentum and appetite for it, it would be awhile away. But, even if it doesn't materialize into anything substantial, this game should still hold particular reverence for the college football community. These two programs fearlessly set up a matchup in the span of just 24 hours and it worked out perfectly. Coastal Carolina will earn huge money from College GameDay coming to town that will pay huge dividends for the university as a whole, while BYU will never have to wrestle with the "What if?" question of them missing the 2020 CFB Playoff. And while COVID-19 rages on all around the United States and the world, we got the most beautiful distraction for a few fun, wacky hours on Saturday. That's what makes college football and sports so great, and so important to so many of us. 

2020 College Football Thoughts & Reactions: Week 8

Michael Penix Jr., Indiana

 

Indiana Is The Real Deal

Penn State going on the road and squaring off against Indiana was one of the most fascinating matchups of the Big Ten's return, and it did not disappoint. The Hoosiers and Nittany Lions went back-and-forth until the final play of the game, which featured a controversial touchdown by Indiana's Michael Penix Jr. The upset wasn't completely shocking, because this Indiana program has risen to the level where they should be able to compete with the elites of this conference. They have a true rising star in Penix Jr., and while the defense let up a lot points, they still did a good job creating turnovers and making plays. The most impressive thing about Indiana's rise under head coach Tom Allen is the cultural shift; this team has bought fully into their head coach, and they don't fear anyone in this league. That isn't too say the Hoosiers are going to overtake Ohio State in the East, but I wouldn't be shocked if they hover around seven-eight wins, which would equate to roughly 9-10 in a regular 12-game schedule.

Is Michigan Really That Good? Or Is Minnesota That Bad?

It's hard to know what to make of Michigan's resounding 49-24 win over Minnesota in primetime Saturday night. I foolishly picked the Gophers, but the Wolverines looked crisp on both sides of the ball, and the game was never really in jeopardy past the first quarter. So does this mean UM is a legitimate favorite in the East? Or is Minnesota going to fall back to Earth following their magical 2019? My opinion is a little bit of both. Michigan played excellent and QB Joe Milton played exactly the way the Wolverines wanted him to. He really seems like the ideal fit for OC Josh Gattis' offense, and he played really well despite Michigan replacing three of their top four receivers from '19. On the Gopher side, they had a number of players out due to COVID, including key places on special teams and linebacker. However, the defense has got to be better if they have any hopes of competing out West. Coordinator Joe Rossi did a tremendous job in his first full season at the position last fall, but this year will be where he really earns his money. The good news is that the offense did still play pretty well, and has a favorable matchup with Maryland this upcoming Friday.

Cincinnati Is One Step Closer To a New Year's Six Bowl

Although it got lost in the shuffle with both the Big Ten and Mountain West returning, Cincinnati's victory over SMU was quite the impressive one. The Bearcats dominated from start to finish, and held the explosive SMU offense to just 290 yards. The victory improves Cincy to 4-0 on the season and while there is still a lot of football to be played, they are pretty clearly the AAC favorite. Considering this conference has sent four of the six Group of Five NY6 representatives, it's a good bet that the Bearcats have a good chance to reach one of the major bowls. With that being said, they'll have to stave off a few other contenders, namely Memphis and Tulsa inside their own conference, and Coastal Carolina, Marshall and Boise State elsewhere.

Yes, BYU Really Is Going To Go Undefeated

One of the really great stories of this wacky 2020 college football season has been the success of the BYU Cougars. BYU entered the year with reserved expectations, but they have jumped out to a 6-0 start and are beating opponents by an average of 31 points. They have four games left on their schedule that are definitely scheduled, and are also expected to make-up their previously postponed matchup with 6-1 Army. Those four remaining games? Western Kentucky, at Boise State, North Alabama, and San Diego State. Certainly that road trek to Boise could be awfully tricky, as would a showdown with the triple-option attack of Army, but this Cougars team has the second-best odds to finish the year undefeated according to ESPN's Football Power Index. It's going to be hard for the Cougs to convince the CFB Playoff Committee that they're worthy of a Playoff spot even if they are undefeated, but it's still a fairly incredible story. Don't be shocked if QB Zach Wilson is a regular at the award show at the end of the season, as the junior has been an absolute revelation in 2020.

How Does Jaylen Waddle's Injury Affect Alabama?

Injuries are an unfortunate reality of college football, and the biggest one of the day Saturday was the injury to Alabama's lightning fast receiver, Jaylen Waddle. Waddle might be the fastest player in college football and he was the type of talent that could take the top off opposing defenses, giving the Tide yet another weapon to have fun with. He was leading the Tide in receiving yardage and had four touchdowns on the season, a major contributor to the nation's third best scoring offense. At a place like 'Bama, you expect others on the depth chart to be able to step up, but this loss could still make an impact. Expect even more usage for DeVonta Smith and John Metchie III, but the biggest impact will be on special teams. As their primary returner, Waddle struck fear into opposing team's hearts, and they rarely chose to kick to him. Alabama will have somebody ready to step into his role, but it's going to be hard to replace that type of speed. With all that being said, the Tide are still the heavy favorite in the SEC West. Their biggest threat is Texas A&M, a team they already dominated 52-24. The bigger question is the effect it could have down the line. Will it make an impact against a Clemson or an Ohio State in the Playoff? It certainly could.

The Mountain West Is Back Too

While all the headlines over the weekend focused on the Big Ten's return, the Mountain West also returned for the first time in the 2020 campaign. The league's favorite, Boise State, opened up their season with a comfortable victory over Utah State while possibly their biggest threat, Air Force, lost 17-6 to San Jose State. Another team to watch is the reigning West Division champion Hawai'i, who beat Fresno State by two touchdowns. New quarterback Chevan Cordeiro not only threw for 229 yards, but he also added 116 yards and two scores with his legs. Sure, maybe the Mountain West won't make a massive difference on the national scene, but what college football fan doesn't love some late night football? At least until the Pac-12 returns, the Mountain West should dominate the late-night market.

2020 College Football Thoughts & Reactions: Week 5

Shane Buechele, SMU

 The Big 12 Race Is An Absolute Mess

The Big 12 Title race was already confusing before another wild week in the league, as TCU upset Texas and Iowa State took down Oklahoma. The upsets leave Oklahoma State as the lone undefeated in the conference, and the Big 12's best hope for one of the four spots in the Playoff field. It's an uncomfortable position for a conference that has yet to win a Playoff game, despite regular representation from Oklahoma over this past half-decade. Speaking of the Sooners, their struggles so far in 2020 aren't completely shocking considering some of the injuries and opt-outs they had, but the frustrating thing? Their defense continues to struggle, and they just put together one of the worst tackling performances I've ever seen at any level in football. The Sooners have a chance to fall to 1-3 this next weekend as they take on a Red River rivalry that seems as unimportant as it ever has at the moment.

The SEC West Once Again Runs Through Tuscaloosca

One of the least surprising elements of Week Five was Alabama's handling of Texas A&M Saturday afternoon. Although the Aggies kept up with the Tide through the first half, Alabama was able to put their foot on the gas pedal, coming out with a 52-24 win. Mac Jones spent all off-season hearing about the potential QB competition between him and Bryce Young, but has come out this season with a vengeance. He totaled 435 yards and 4 touchdowns through the air, chucking the ball all over the field to a group of dynamic receivers. Even better news for 'Bama was the fact the rest of the division struggled on the field this weekend. Auburn looked extremely underwhelming in a 27-6 loss to Georgia and Mississippi State lost to Arkansas one week after their big victory over LSU. It's way too early to already crown the Tide the kings of the SEC West once again, but which team in the division has a reasonable chance to top them? I thought the Aggies would end up being the greatest challengers preseason, but they once again look like a good, but far from great, middle-of-the-pack team in the West once more.

The American Athletic Race: Cincinnati or SMU?

Cincinnati entered this weekend as the second-highest ranked Group of Five team in the polls, but following UCF's loss to Tulsa the Bearcats are now likely the league's favorite. This Cincy team is far from flashy, but their defense has been dominant over the season's first month. It's a defensive group that has allowed just over 12 points per game so far, and they forced five USF turnovers this Saturday. The other big winner in the AAC was SMU, who won a thriller over No. 25 Memphis. Shane Buechele outdueled Brady White to the tune of 474 yards and 3 touchdowns, while wide out Reggie Roberson went for 243 yards in the victory. I still have some concerns about the Mustangs on defense, but the offense is going to keep them in prime position every game they play. It will be two more weeks before these two square off in their regular season battle, which should be the biggest game in the American this season.

Could BYU Go Undefeated?

If you're not a fan of late-night Friday football, you may have missed BYU's dominant performance this week, as they pummeled Louisiana Tech by 31 points. It continued an amazing month for the Cougars, who have won their first three games by 52, 41 and now 31. It does raise the question: is this team legitimately good enough to go undefeated? The schedule down the line changed a bit over the last few weeks with the Mountain West announcing it would return, which added Boise State and San Diego State to their schedule. But, there's a good chance BYU is favored in every single remaining game they play, with the only exception being that road trip to Boise. This is not some crazy overreaction either; the BYU offense has looked aggressive and explosive, and the defense is well-rounded and disciplined. The way the Cougars have dominated the line of scrimmage is what has jumped out to me, they've looked more like an SEC team out there than an Independent.

The Heisman Race Starting to Heat Up?

It's hard to consider the Heisman race really started without the Big Ten or Pac-12 playing yet, but some names are already getting early consideration for college football's most prestigious award. Kyle Trask helped himself out with another big day over South Carolina, Mac Jones deserves attention after what he did to A&M, Trevor Lawrence went for 329 and 3 touchdowns against a solid UVA defense, and Buechele will continue to put up staggering numbers. With that being said, there are also several players who likely have already seen their Heisman hopes dashed. Sam Ehlinger has been really good but UT needs to be a legit Playoff threat if he wants the award, the same likely goes for Spencer Rattler, and K.J. Costello had an off-week after setting the SEC record for yardage.

The October 10th Slate

I've held off on my usual College Football Picks this year because this season has been so chaotic in terms of scheduling and postponements. However, I'll be making picks this week because this October 10th is just too good not to. A quick look at the biggest games this next Saturday:

• Florida-Texas A&M: Biggest test of the season so far for the Gators, and also possibly an elimination game for any A&M West Title hopes.
• Virginia Tech-UNC: Two undefeated teams who have yet to face a ranked opponent, this one will tell us a lot abut whether either can stage a legit threat to Clemson.
• Okahoma-Texas: These two teams are reeling, but the Red River rivalry is always worth a watch.
• Tennessee-Georgia: The Vols have been a great story so far, and this might be the biggest game they've had in a long, long time.
• Clemson-Miami: Perhaps the biggest game in the ACC this season. The Hurricanes have been so good, but are they good enough to take down the league's Goliath?

College Football Thoughts & Reactions: Week 3

 Miami Impresses in Saturday Primetime

Brevin Jordan, Miami

The only ranked matchup of the weekend came between Miami and Louisville, two teams looking to rise up the ACC totem pole. Miami's offense once again was on fire, totaling nearly 500 yards and putting up 47 points against a Louisville defense that looked overmatched. What was particularly impressive about the victory for the Hurricanes was that they moved the ball in a different way than Week 2. After running all over UAB previously, Miami chose to attack through the air in this one, with D'Eriq King finishing with 360 yards and three touchdowns. On the Louisville side, their offense kept things somewhat competitive, but it wasn't able to overcome some of the defensive struggles. Running back Javian Hawkins impressed by rushing for 164 yards, while speedy wide out Tutu Atwell added two touchdowns. Louisville still played decent enough to be considered somewhat of a factor in the league, but it was certainly the 'Canes that saw their stock rise in a considerable manner here. So far, the Rhett Lashlee hire has looked tremendous, and his relationship with King has been a match made in heaven. Will it continue next week in a rivalry game with Florida State?

UCF Once Again a Serious Group of Five Contender

UCF opened up their 2020 season on the road against Georgia Tech, hoping to begin a resume that could garner them CFB Playoff attention. The Knights did not disappoint, taking down the Yellow Jackets by four touchdowns in a game that was never close. Dillon Gabriel was in complete command, burning GT's pass defense to the tune of 417 yards and four touchdowns. The defense also forced Tech into five turnovers, picking off Jeff Sims twice and forcing three lost fumbles. It's a good sign all around for UCF, even though the Yellow Jackets aren't exactly the cream of the crop for Power Five football. The offense has to continue to be aggressive and explosive, and the defense can still be effective playing a bend-don't-break method. It might not be a victory that will convince the Playoff Committee UCF is definitely a Playoff team, but it's a win that can help bolster a resume.

Another Bad Week For the Big 12

Only one Big 12 team was in action this past Saturday, and that was Oklahoma State squaring off against Tulsa in Stillwater. It was a perfect opportunity for the Cowboys to flash their potential as a Big 12 Title contender but it instead led to more questions than answers. OSU QB Spencer Sanders went down with injury early on in this one, forcing the Cowboys to turn to Ethan Bullock originally and then later, Shane Illingworth. Neither Bullock nor Illingworth had ever thrown a pass in college football, and while Illingworth did jumpstart things, the offense looked incredibly underwhelming. Chuba Hubbard also struggled to get things going, averaging just 3.4 yards per attempt on 27 carries. Certainly Hubbard was hurt by the lack of a passing game to keep the defense honest, but you still would've liked to see more. Of course, Oklahoma State still ended up winning, which is a good thing but it wasn't the resounding win they were looking for. This is a team that has legit Big 12 Title aspirations; they should be beating the bottom of the American Athletic by more than nine points.

A Pair of ACC Teams Make Statements

Neither Boston College nor NC State entered 2020 with particularly high expectations. BC had been a consistent .500 team under Steve Addazio before firing him this past off-season, while NC State was fresh off a 1-7 mark in the league. But, both teams responded with quality conference wins to get their seasons going, with Boston College taking down Duke, and NC State beating Wake Forest. The Eagles displayed a crisp passing attack that flew in the face of the power-run attack they had operated under Addazio. Notre Dame transfer Phil Jurkovec went for 300 yards and wide out Zay Flowers was tremendous, totaling 162 yards and a touchdown. The Wolfpack offense also looked very good for their first game action, going over 450 total yards and putting up 45 points. Ricky Person Jr. and Zonovan "Bam" Knight look like a potential potent 1-2 punch in the backfield, both nearing 100 yards on the ground and combining for four total touchdowns. Of course, I don't think either win necessarily moves BC and NC State into serious ACC contention, but they deserve a lot of credit. Jeff Hafley has quickly come in and injected serious energy into this lethargic BC program, while Dave Doeren hopes to work himself off the hot seat in Raleigh.

Welcome To the Coaching Ranks, Deion Sanders!

One of the more interesting developments in college football this past weekend happened to a team that wasn't even playing, as Jackson State hired Deion Sanders to be their next head football coach. Jackson State is a school that has had plenty of success in the past, but they've slipped significantly in the past decade. They desperately needed a breath of fresh air, and what better way to do it than to bring in Sanders, one of the best characters in the sport of football. Sanders has never coached on the collegiate level, so things will be a transition obviously. However, he knows the game of football, and he'll be an absolute beast on the recruiting trail. I'm not sure whether he'll win or not here, but it will be a fascinating watch either way.

College Football Thoughts & Reactions: Weeks 1 & 2

Jonathan Adams Jr., Arkansas State

After an off-season of wondering whether a college football season would happen or not in 2020, we finally have been gifted some football. Sure, things look and sound a lot different than a typical fall Saturday, but as a college football fan, any football is a good thing. The games in Week 1 and Week 2 weren't exactly loaded with marquee matchups, but there was still a lot we can take from the opening weeks. Here are a few thoughts and reactions I had to the first dose of CFB action.

The Sun Belt Has Come to Play
The Sun Belt Conference has long been considered the weakest of the ten conferences in FBS football (excluding Independents), but it might have had the best weekend of any conference playing. The league swept the Big 12 in all three matchups between the two conferences, as Louisiana-Lafayette upset Iowa State, Arkansas State beat Kansas State, and Coastal Carolina took down Kansas. All three victories are even more impressive when you consider the fact they were all on the road, even though fans weren't as much as a factor as they normally would've been, with Kansas State being the only team with some fans in the stands. The fact of the matter is that the Sun Belt is a lot stronger league than most might realize; Appalachian State, Arkansas State and Lafayette have all built some of the Group of Five's strongest programs. I think that it also shows a natural reality of this pandemic season; with such a short and uncommon off-season, we are going to see a lot of rust and poor play, which can help close the talent gap between teams. That will probably result in more upsets than we've ever seen before, and it's hard to complain about something that makes college football so fun and unique.

Florida State Is Still Florida State
Mike Norvell's debut in Tallahassee didn't go as planned, as Florida State was upset at home by Georgia Tech, a team coming off a 3-9 campaign. It certainly was a sloppy game on both sides, and the bad weather in Tallahassee only contributed to that. Give credit to Georgia Tech for finding out a way to close out the game and a lot of credit to true freshman QB Jeff Sims, who weathered two early interceptions to lead the Yellow Jackets to victory. However, the bigger story has to be FSU, who lost their fourth straight season opener for the first time since the mid-1970s. After a stellar opening drive, the offense looked dreadful, with the same old problems showing up once again: bad O-Line and QB play. To be fair to QB James Blackman, he was operating behind blockers that were shelled by GT's front seven, but he still had some head-scratching throws. It seems like only a matter of time until he is benched for good, leading way to dual-threat Jordan Travis, who we saw a little bit of in this one, or freshman Chubba Purdy. I do think that Norvell can find a way to help FSU climb out of this hole, but at some point the talent on this roster has to start showing up. We're probably going to see more screens or other creative ways to disguise this atrocious O-Line, which plagued the end of the Jimbo Fisher era and the entirety of the Willie Taggart tenure.

The Coaching Carousel Has Already Begun Spinning
With athletic departments strapped for cash as a result of the ongoing pandemic, most college football people believed we'd see a relatively uneventful coaching carousel this season. To a lot of programs, spending the money to make a coaching change just doesn't make much sense right now, no matter how bad things are. That idea of an uneventful carousel was shot down within the opening weeks of September, as Southern Miss decided to mutually part ways with head coach Jay Hopson. It wasn't a completely shocking move when you consider Southern Miss hasn't taken any significant steps forward under Hopson's leadership, but it definitely was surprising given our current predicament. So where does Southern Miss go now that they've made the move? I think there's a good chance they bring back a former head coach of theirs, Larry Fedora. Fedora left Southern Miss prior to the 2012 season to take over at North Carolina, but he was let go by the Tar Heels in 2018. Currently, he's the OC at Baylor but I think he would jump at another head coaching opportunity, particularly at a place where he has familiarity and had previous success.

Scheduling Flexibility: A Reality Of the Times
Prior to this pandemic, college football scheduling was notoriously strange, with programs often setting up their schedules years in advance. But all this scheduling chaos has shown us that college football scheduling can, and should be, flexible. Take BYU for example; with 10 of their 12 originally scheduled opponents cancelling their respective seasons, the Cougars had to put together a full schedule in just a matter of weeks. They weren't the only ones, as a number of independent and FCS programs had to scrap together schedules extremely fast once conference postponements or cancellations became a factor. And now just this week, Baylor and Houston figured out a way to play each other this upcoming weekend, despite no prior plans to do so. This is going to continue to be a reality of the times we are in; as teams are forced to cancel or postpone games a result of COVID-19, there is going to need to be flexibility and creativity in order to build a schedule. Hopefully this is something that can continue once this pandemic is behind us, and can be used in case of weather cancellations or other extraneous events.

Clemson & Oklahoma Will Be Just Fine
Clemson and Oklahoma have become fixtures in the CFB Playoff during the fresh Playoff era, and the two programs again confirmed they would be in the National Championship hunt with strong opening weekends. Clemson had absolutely no problems with a decent Wake Forest team, getting up early and putting in their back-ups by the third quarter. Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne came out and dominated, and the new-look defense played fast and physical, which obviously bodes well for the Tigers in 2020. Oklahoma might not have faced a top-tier team in the form of Missouri State, but it was still a good sign that they played so comfortably despite breaking in a new QB and dealing with a long list of players out as a result of COVID. Spencer Rattler certainly did not disappoint, tossing four touchdowns even as he sat the majority of the second half. Big 12 defenses may be slightly more difficult than Missouri State, but I don't blame Sooners fans for being excited about their newest star at the quarterback position.

Louisville & Miami Will Factor Into the ACC Title Race
It will be a particularly intriguing ACC Title race in 2020, as the removal of divisions and the addition of Notre Dame for a year should make things especially competitive in the conference. Obviously Clemson is still the team to beat, but the league's middle-of-the-pack teams helped out their stock with strong opening weekends. Miami took down UAB 31-14 in Miami Gardens, thanks to a great debut from D'Eriq King and the Hurricane rushing attack. In addition, Louisville handled Western Kentucky in their home stadium by two touchdowns, as Cardinal QB Micale Cunningham went over 300 yards passing. Sure, beating two C-USA teams in your own home stadium doesn't exactly qualify as a game-changing victory, but both teams answered significant questions about themselves. Miami looked ready to roll under new play-caller Rhett Lashlee, who seems like a pretty ideal fit with King. The fact their ground game looked so dominant is also a really good sign, considering it was one of the weakest in the ACC in 2019. For the Cardinals, their offense looked really good but it was the play of their defense that should be exciting for fans. They held Western Kentucky to under 250 yards in total and limited big plays, which was a huge issue for Louisville last fall. WKU might not have the most explosive offense in college football, but it still bodes well that the Cards played so well despite having a shortened off-season.