We bear been here earlier than. It be September, which is the time of year when we can screech, for a couple of days on the least, that a formerly astronomical program has risen from the ashes to reassert its dominance. In a minute sample dimension, we be taught visions of greater days.

Miami has been abet earlier than. It by no manner lasts.

Texas is abet nearly every September, and that hope ends faster than the everyday Matthew McConaughey nude bongo solo.

For more than a decade, the “they’re abet” 2nd has been less a proclamation than the setup to a shaggy dog memoir, with followers all too sure the punchline will come rapidly ample.

Nonetheless on this September Saturday, it would no longer truly feel luxuriate in a shaggy dog memoir.

Texas did no longer simply beat Alabama 34-24 in Tuscaloosa. The Longhorns threw haymakers, following every Tide landing with their very dangle, getting up off the mat to think down Cut Saban luxuriate in Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania. This wasn’t a fluke. Texas changed into once the more talented crew with the far greater quarterback.

A year within the past, Quinn Ewers starred as the frontman for Austin’s prime Molly Hatchet veil band (Prolly Hatchet) however changed into once, at most fascinating, a case in mediocrity at QB. Then he got a haircut and returned to the Horns for 2023 as a right star. Ewers threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns, torching the Alabama secondary — at the side of robotically attacking All-American Kool-Motivate McKinstry. No longer since Hi-C launched Ecto Cooler in 1989 has any individual delivered the type of blow to Kool-Motivate.

Correct as Texas and Alabama kicked off, Miami changed into once inserting the finishing touches on its dangle spectacular accumulate over an SEC vitality. The Hurricanes spotted Texas A&M 10 aspects to commence the sport, however then grew to became the screws on Jimbo Fisher, with QB Tyler Van Dyke tossing 5 landing passes in a Forty eight-33 accumulate.

It changed into once, at long final, proof of notion for coach Mario Cristobal’s promised revival of the Canes, a defining accumulate in opposition to a crew that, fair appropriate a year within the past, had utterly stifled Miami’s offense.

That the teams on the atrocious live of those momentous wins every belonged to the mighty SEC changed into once its dangle unlikely observation.

For Alabama, your entire concerns about an offense with out a sure identity and a defense that had softened in latest years bear been on expose in opposition to the Longhorns.

For the Aggies, the loss to Miami changed into once so decisive that Bobby Petrino probably supplied to interview for Jimbo Fisher’s job on the airplane recede home.

The SEC has six nonconference losses in two weeks already, at the side of four to the ACC. (Though, if commissioner Greg Sankey fair appropriate needs to lengthen and add North Carolina, Florida Sigh, Miami and, um, Wake Wooded space, we can chalk it all up to the grind of a mighty SEC agenda.) In preserving with ESPN Stats and Info, this marks the first season since 2002 in which Alabama, LSU and Florida bear an L by the live of Week 2.

What a valorous original world this would most certainly per chance most certainly be.

There are 12 weeks closing, remember that, and the memoir of a college soccer season by no manner plays out fair appropriate as we would ask. September foreshadowing is as probably to be a red herring as it’s far real information on a pattern line.

Unexcited, for this week on the least, 2023 felt something more such as the glory days of decades past.

Texas appears to be like to be like to be abet.

Miami appears to be like to be like to be abet.

It be either the commence of a really relaxing season or the put that precedes the horsemen’s arrival within the Book of Revelation.

Colorado’s quick turnaround and Nebraska’s by no manner-ending rebuild

Sequels so rarely ever dwell up to the contemporary, however Colorado’s 2nd act in opposition to Nebraska changed into once, if anything else, a more emphatic efficiency for coach Deion Sanders’ crew.

Colorado demolished Nebraska 36-14 on Saturday, as Travis Hunter yet again made an impression on every sides of the ball with three catches for 73 yards and 4 tackles, Xavier Weaver regarded luxuriate in an emerging superstar with 10 catches for 170 yards, and Shedeur Sanders followed up his 500-yard passing efficiency in opposition to TCU with every other 393 yards and three touchdowns. And whereas Week 1’s accumulate over the Horned Frogs rarely showcased an elite defense, the Buffaloes held Nebraska to fair appropriate 11 completions and had four takeaways.

Nonetheless as with most truly fair sequels, the right leisure is less in what we realized of an already established hero however more within the complexity of the antagonist.

And in this case, Nebraska supplied no complexity. The memoir of the Cornhuskers is easy: They’re faulty.

Saturday’s loss changed into once the 18th in Nebraska’s past 23 games. Jeff Sims, the quarterback coach Matt Rhule handpicked to e-book the Huskers’ resurgence, changed into once poor for the 2nd straight week, turning the ball over 3 times. The defense, which held up effectively early, fell apart down the stretch.

The supreme thing that regarded noteworthy assorted from past Nebraska distress on Saturday is that the sport changed into once by no manner truly all that shut.

There are tranquil nits to opt with the Buffaloes. Of their two otherwise spectacular wins, they’ve allowed 12 sacks and rushed for fair appropriate 1.7 yards per carry. And or now no longer it’s absolutely that you just most certainly would possibly per chance most certainly per chance think Colorado has yet to be taught a really mighty opponent.

A year within the past, nonetheless, the Buffs bear been a humiliation, rarely in a position to taking the sphere without tripping over their very dangle shoe laces. Now, you favor to squint to search out any flaws in their sport.

The complications at Nebraska are so noteworthy bigger — bigger, maybe, than they bear been even a year within the past, amid embarrassing losses to Northwestern and Georgia Southern and, effectively, Huskers followers assemble now no longer want reminders.

Two games is now no longer ample to be conscious of a rebuild, remember that. Rhule has a long historical past of winning faculty soccer games, and existence will get on the least marginally easier within the next couple of weeks.

Nonetheless Sims is now 7-18 as a initiating QB with 39 touchdowns and 37 turnovers. Is there a reason to ponder that résumé modifications within the months to return?

Those Blackshirts on defense, once the soul of one amongst the astronomical programs within the nation, bear been overwhelmed down by one exhibiting of offensive ineptitude after every other.

And whereas the celebration in Boulder is good getting started, hope for Nebraska tranquil feels luxuriate in or now no longer it’s far a long ways off.

Pac-12 keeps buzzing

No league stays supreme forever, despite the reality that “forever” for that league is ready eight more months.

So it changed into once that the Pac-12’s undefeated open to the season came to a pause in Week 2, when Arizona fell to Mississippi Sigh 31-24 in additional time.

And yet, Week 2 changed into once every other reminder that, in what sure appears to be like luxuriate in its final season of existence, the Pac-12 is now no longer going out without some fireworks.

Oregon overcame a 27-18 deficit and picked off its damaged-down QB Tyler Shough 3 times, at the side of a forty five-yard opt six with forty five seconds left to seal a 38-30 accumulate over Texas Tech.

Washington Sigh knocked off No. 19 Wisconsin.

UCLA dominated San Diego Sigh.

Utah escaped Baylor, Colorado changed into once distinctive yet again, and the Washington Huskies are tossing landing passes luxuriate in Oprah giving freely vehicles.

USC’s sport ops even gain credit ranking for being manner cooler than the officials. Listen, Stanford had no chance to accumulate this sport, and the folks fair appropriate wished to listen to “Free Chicken.”

Michael Penix Jr. has now thrown for 400 or more yards in four of his past six games. At Rutgers, that is named “a fair century.”

Dante Moore appears to be like to be like luxuriate in an emerging star at UCLA, throwing for 290 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to San Diego Sigh on Saturday.

USC is already a video sport on offense. This roughly stuff is good hideous.

Even with Saturday’s losses, the Pac-12 figures to bear six teams ranked within the pinnacle 20, which provides the league a fair case as the nation’s most fascinating.

And sure, Stanford regarded dreadful and Cal misplaced. Nonetheless that is the ACC’s screech.

Heisman Five

We’re two weeks in and, in actual fact, the hardest allotment is deciding how many Colorado gamers to embrace among the many Heisman favorites.

1. Colorado assemble-it-all star Travis Hunter

Hunter had three catches for 73 yards on offense, four tackles and a PBU on defense, and singlehandedly swayed the area markets to ship corn futures plummeting. It changed into once a thorough beating of Nebraska.

2. USC QB Caleb Williams

Williams threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to Stanford. Oh, that changed into once fair appropriate within the first half of. If he keeps doing this to groups he’s going to shatter his Heisman probabilities by by no manner playing within the 2nd half of.

3. Florida Sigh QB Jordan Travis

Travis had fair appropriate two touchdowns in opposition to Southern Plug over, however handiest one amongst them changed into once to Keon Coleman, so the diploma of disaster changed into once better. Regardless, Florida Sigh rolled 66-13.

4. Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders

Sanders has 903 passing yards and six passing TDs via two games. Remaining year, Colorado as a crew had 2,075 passing yards and 10 passing TDs. That places Sanders on tempo to prime the Buffs’ season totals from 2022 earlier than the live of this month.

5. Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman

Hartman’s Notre Dame occupation up to now: Three wins, 10 touchdowns, no picks, one rib necklace. Your transfer, Caleb Williams.

Large Ten vibe take a look at

It changed into once every other tiresome week atop the Large Ten, as Michigan and Ohio Sigh bear been favored by a mixed 83 aspects. So the results bear been less about wins and more about vibes.

Despite every thing, fair appropriate a week within the past, Ohio Sigh’s offense scuffled in opposition to Indiana and, whereas the Buckeyes obtained without effort, there bear been some inexpensive concerns. So, what did we be taught in Week 2? Perhaps now no longer far more than we did in Week 1. It changed into once an effortless 35-7 accumulate over Youngstown Sigh, and Kyle McCord threw for 3 touchdowns, however truly, Ohio Sigh spent the bulk of the 2nd half of on cruise adjust.

The Buckeyes bear scored 58 aspects up to now, which is their fewest via two games since 2014.

Oh, they also obtained the nationwide title in 2014. Ryan Day truly is playing chess when the the relaxation of us are playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos.

As for Michigan, the Wolverines topped UNLV 35-7 in their 2nd of three games without head coach Jim Harbaugh, who spent the afternoon running the chain gang of a excessive college soccer sport after which, we think, sifting via his sequence of dilapidated MAD Magazines so he would possibly per chance most certainly per chance most certainly assemble your entire fold-ins.

J.J. McCarthy tossed two landing passes and Michigan had 300 passing yards for the 2nd time in its past three games — something it had carried out fair appropriate twice in its prior 16.

In the period in-between, the Michigan defense has allowed 10 entire aspects up to now this season, and with Bowling Inexperienced and Rutgers on deck, that number would possibly per chance most certainly per chance most certainly now no longer transfer noteworthy anytime rapidly.

Ancient accumulate for Iowa

It wasn’t easy, however anything else have not got felt fitting, as Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz picked up occupation accumulate No. 200 with a 20-13 victory over rival Iowa Sigh.

All the map via the route of Ferentz’s 200 wins, Iowa has scored upward of 600 entire aspects on offense, at the side of 13 on Saturday. The defense added a opt-six, which for reasons we can now no longer fathom tranquil counts in direction of Brian Ferentz’s quest for 25 aspects per sport — the number Iowa has to hit for the younger Ferentz to preserve his job.

Cade McNamara, the QB brought in from Michigan to invigorate the passing sport, threw for 123 yards and a opt. Iowa averaged nearly 4 yards per flee. It changed into once truly a fireworks expose.

The Hawkeyes nearly blew a 20-3 lead, which truly would possibly per chance most certainly per chance most certainly want been a shimmering flip for its offensive coordinator. Beyond regular time would’ve given OC Brian Ferentz an opportunity to pad an additional three, maybe six aspects to his entire. Alas, it changed into once now no longer to be.

As a replace, his quest for 300 — 25 aspects over 12 games — stands at 44. Since Oct. 1 of ultimate year, Iowa has hit that magical 25-point worth fair appropriate once.

Unexcited, the Ferentz family has loads to bear a ideal time after the type of historic accumulate, and we think Kirk & Co. will all bear a blast at Applebee’s, whereas Brian naps within the backseat of the automobile.

Under-the-radar play of the week

The speed for the appropriate immense-man landing of the season is already over. Colorado Mesa’s Cooper Mumford recovered a fumble on a trick play, scrambled outside, then tossed a 10-yard landing tear.

Under-the-radar sport of the week

As soon as upon a time, Luke McCaffrey changed into once a QB prospect for Nebraska. Loads has befell since then. McCaffrey indirectly transferred to the Rice Owls, misplaced a QB competition, and moved to broad receiver. Nebraska also gave up on playing a quarterback.

On Saturday, McCaffrey reminded the college soccer world that he would possibly per chance most certainly per chance most certainly now no longer bear been an elite QB, however he’s a heck of a participant.

McCaffrey hauled in a 34-yard landing tear with one hand, giving Rice a 21-0 lead.

Rice regarded as if it can most certainly per chance most certainly bear the sport in hand, up 28-0 on the half of, however Houston had other strategies.

The Cougars roared abet, scoring the closing 28 aspects of regulation, at the side of two touchdowns within the final four minutes, to ship the sport to additional time.

The 2 teams traded touchdowns in every of the first two frames of OT, however whereas Rice related on its 2-point are attempting, Houston did no longer, giving the accumulate to the Owls.

McCaffrey carried out the sport with 99 yards and two landing grabs, and Rice nabbed its first accumulate within the intra-metropolis rivalry with Houston since 2010.

Four downs

Maryland changed into once nearly doomed by a sluggish commence in opposition to Charlotte, falling within the abet of 14-0 and trailing 14-9 on the half of. Would possibly per chance maybe per chance well additionally Charlotte coach Biff Poggi bear precipitated this by, say, pulling the fire apprehension within the Terps’ resort, forcing an evacuation, then changing the AM/PM setting on all their apprehension clocks? Did he most certainly assemble this whereas carrying a Speedo and ingesting Olde English out of a foam dome helmet? No, or now no longer it’s unlikely, however with Poggi, we’re ruling nothing out. Both manner, Maryland came abet and obtained 38-20.

A year within the past, North Carolina and Appalachian Sigh played in a shootout for the ages, with the Heels prevailing 63-61 after the 2 teams mixed for 62 fourth-quarter aspects. Saturday’s rematch wasn’t reasonably as explosive, however the Heels and Mountaineers did rack up more than 1,000 entire yards as UNC missed a behind field honest that can most certainly per chance most certainly’ve obtained the sport, however held on to prevail in double OT.

Tulane changed into once without star QB Michael Pratt for its matchup with Ole Plug over. In total when issues tear faulty in Contemporary Orleans, we recommend having a couple of hurricanes at Pat O’Brien’s and hoping it can most certainly per chance most certainly all work out, however the Inexperienced Wave foolishly shrugged off that chance and as a replace sent Kai Horton out for the commence as a replace. He held his dangle for a half of, however issues fell apart after the spoil, with Jaxson Shuffle (267 yards, 2 TDs) leading Ole Plug over to a 37-20 accumulate.

Clemson got off to a sorrowful commence in opposition to Charleston Southern, with a opt-six by Cade Klubnik inserting the Tigers in an early 14-7 gap. Klubnik & Co. figured issues out within the 2nd half of, nonetheless, and outscored the Buccaneers 42-0 to shut out the sport. Klubnik carried out with 315 yards and 4 touchdowns, and in a while Dabo Swinney passed round to every media member a beautifully designed existing card with the phrases “I told you so” in hand-written calligraphy.

A minor victory

In existence, astronomical success begins with a minute step forward. Perhaps that will be factual, too, for the NAIA’s Texas College Steers.

In Week 1 of the season, Texas College changed into once walloped 90-0 in opposition to Texas-Permian Basin (which, in fairness, is among Texas’ most fascinating basins).

In Week 2, the same result regarded within the offing. At the live of the third quarter, Central Arkansas (an inherently middling Arkansas route) led 70-0, however our cherished Steers wouldn’t tear down with out a fight.

After a Texas College interception, Central Arkansas started a force pinned deep in its dangle territory. That’s when Steers story Dylan DuBois delivered a play for the ages. On a handoff to the tailback, Dubois delivered a success within the live zone for a security.

And on account of Dubois’ patented final-2nd magic, the closing rating changed into once Central Arkansas 70, Texas College 2.

Did you say ‘Utes’?

No Cam Rising? No screech. Effectively, OK, a couple of complications. Nonetheless Utah’s offensive woes in opposition to Baylor on Saturday weren’t ample to preserve the Utes from transferring to 2-0 on the season.

Baylor led 13-3 halfway via the third quarter, however coach Kyle Whittingham pulled his initiating QB, Bryson Barnes, and went with freshman Nate Johnson, who engineered a behind comeback. Johnson carried out 6 of 7 throws for 82 yards and added every other 32 yards on the ground, at the side of a landing — one amongst two Utah ratings within the sport’s closing two minutes.

Unexcited, Baylor nearly stole the accumulate.

After Jaylon Glover scored to give Utah a 20-13 lead with 17 seconds to play, Baylor related on a 47-yard throw to Hal Presley, organising one closing heave to the live zone with one 2nd left on the clock.

Technically, the tear fell incomplete. Nonetheless that is now no longer how Baylor followers will be conscious it.

After years of tolerating Pac-12 officiating, this must bear felt luxuriate in an early welcome into the Large 12 for the Utes. What regarded luxuriate in a sure defensive tear interference did no longer develop a flag, and the Utes escaped 20-13.

Irish preserve ACC hotfoot alive

Notre Dame is now no longer going to affix the ACC. Oh, sure, or now no longer it’s technically a fleshy voting member and spent a allotment of this summer nudging the league so that you just can add Cal and Stanford, ostensibly for the fair of faculty soccer, however draw no mistake, the Irish are handiest here to bring the ACC down from the internal.

On Saturday, the Irish toppled NC Sigh forty five-24, with Sam Hartman — the ACC’s all-time leading passer whom the Irish swiped from Wake Wooded space this offseason — throwing for four touchdowns.

It changed into once the first time in 17 games NC Sigh has allowed more than 30 aspects. The final QB to assemble it? That’d be Sam Hartman.

Notre Dame has now obtained 29 straight normal-season games vs. the ACC. Syracuse, which joined the ACC fleshy time in 2013, has fair appropriate 26 entire wins in opposition to the conference since then.

Indeed, since the Irish joined the ACC in all sports however soccer — they once in a while play 5 games per year in opposition to the conference — in 2014, they’ve racked up 42 ACC wins. Splendid Clemson, Pitt and Miami bear more. The opposite 11 fleshy-time ACC people bear been left in Notre Dame’s dirt.

If the ACC bear been the solid of “Succession,” Notre Dame is Tom Wambsgans. He changed into once welcomed into the family, pushed for a immense merger to battle via, then stole your entire vitality for himself. (Aspect existing: Miami is definitely Cousin Greg, fair?)

This is all incredibly problematic for the ACC, however or now no longer it’s worth remembering that, initiating subsequent year, SMU, Stanford and Cal would possibly per chance most certainly per chance most certainly also additionally lose games to Notre Dame.

You know, for the fair of the league.

Unsuitable day within the First Sigh

Delaware changed into once the first squawk to ratify the U.S. structure on Dec. 7, 1787. It be been largely downhill since then, assign Elena Delle Donne and a couple of fair shows on the Bottle & Cork. Nonetheless Saturday would possibly per chance most certainly per chance most certainly want been the squawk’s nadir.

The Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens visited Penn Sigh, and it did no longer tear effectively. The Nittany Lions obtained 63-7.

The Delaware Sigh Hornets visited Military, and it did no longer tear effectively either. The Shaded Knights obtained 57-0.

Even as you are preserving observe, meaning the 2 Division I teams from Delaware misplaced by a mixed rating of 120-7.

This need to no longer come as a shock, nonetheless. The total immense title, image and likeness cash in Delaware is being funneled via its famed rooster farms simply to Florida Sigh, keying that program’s return to greatness.

We knew once they started opening Wawa locations in Florida, it changed into once handiest a topic of time earlier than this befell.

Large bets and faulty beats

Effectively, we ponder or now no longer it’s safe to declare Georgia has misplaced its edge. The Bulldogs allowed Ball Sigh to force down the sphere and boot a meaningless 27-yard field honest with 9 minutes, 5 seconds to play, making the rating forty five-3. That’s how it ended, which intended UGA (-42) hit the spread fair on the nose.

Wake Wooded space opened its accumulate over Vanderbilt with an interception that build the Deacons up with a necessary-and-honest on the 10. They settled for a field honest. Wake got the ball with seven seconds left within the first half of and moved into field honest fluctuate, however it missed a 44-yarder. Vandy had four plays internal Wake’s 3 however grew to became the ball over on downs. Wake had a necessary-and-honest on the Vandy 2 however fumbled. None of that made noteworthy incompatibility within the Deacons’ spectacular ample 36-20 accumulate, however all those miscues bear been worth noting if you happen to bet the over, which came up a half of-point disquieted (56.5).

Syracuse led Western Michigan forty five-7 on the half of, having scored on its first seven drives of the sport. With 52 aspects already on the board, it changed into once handsome to declare the sport changed into once trending dazzling heavily in direction of hitting the over of 56. So, what befell within the 2nd half of? One stinking field honest. Syracuse punted four times (and kicked the aforementioned field honest), whereas Western Michigan grew to became the ball over on downs on every of its closing two drives deep into Orange territory.