Message Board Geniuses

MBG’s Top 25 Week in Review

Good morning, Geniuses and thanks for tuning in to Part 2. If you missed Part 1 you can find it right here.

In this portion of the recap we got Oregon, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss putting the O in offense and Utah pulling out a great win over Florida. We also have Wisconsin breaking in a new coach and Texas A&M breaking in a new coordinator. Unfortunately for you Horned Frogs we also gotta talk about Deion Sanders coming into Fort Worth and putting the college football world on notice.

#13 Notre Dame 56 – Tennessee State 3

The Fighting Irish started their season across the pond with a 42-3 win over Navy. Back on home soil they had another big win, this time over the Tigers of Tennessee State.

The opening drive saw Sam Hartman show off the wheels a little bit as he mixed in a few qb runs to go with the passing game. But it was Jeremiyah Love who would find the end zone on a 35-yard touchdown run for the first score of the game.

Tennessee State would answer with a FG and then things got interesting, if only for a moment. Notre Dame would fumble the kickoff and the Tigers would take over at the 12.

The rest of the game was all Notre Dame. Hartman would do his thing on offense, first scoring a rushing TD and then hitting Chris Tyree and Holden Staes for scores in the first half. 

I’ll shout out Audric Estime as well, he’d tally 116 yards and a touchdown of his own.

The defense was really the story though. They still haven’t allowed a touchdown on the season and in this one, they’d score one of their own on Clarence Lewis’ pick-6 in the third quarter.

Before this one was actually over, the Irish were already looking ahead to Ohio State.

They might wanna pay attention to NC State first.

#14 Utah 24 – Florida 11

Cam Rising may have been missing but the Utes didn’t miss a beat. On the first play of the game Bryson Barnes threw a 70-yard touchdown to Money Parks.

The Utah defense would force four punts in the first half and hold the only promising Gators drive to a Field Goal.

Up 17-3 at the half after a Nate Johnson quarterback keeper, Utah would pick off Graham Mertz on Florida’s first offensive possession of the third quarter.

Bryson Barnes would capitalize with a running touchdown of his own and Utah was up 24-3. Florida would get a touchdown late but it wouldn’t matter.

It’s a fair question.

#15 Oregon 81 – Portland State 7

Oregon kicked off their season against the Vikings of Portland State and for a brief moment it was a fun contest.

After the defense forced a three-and-out, Bo Nix found Tony Franklin for the Ducks first score of the season.

Portland State would run all over the Oregon defense on the ensuing drive and this game was tied.

Lol well done.

Oregon would go back up on a Bucky Irving 52-yard run and then later on the first half he’d score on a 56-yarder.

This one was all Oregon all day. Jordan James would also score twice in the first half and to complete the two-touchdown-in-two-quarters club Nix would find Tony Franklin again.

It was 50-7 at the half and to be honest I stopped paying attention to this one. It’d end up 81-7.

#16 Kansas State 45 – Southeast Missouri State 0

The Wildcats took on the Redhawks in Manhattan, Kansas and it went about like you’d expect. After a quick stop on defense, Will Howard would march the KSU squad down the field, finding Jadon Jackson for a 33-yard score.

Howard would throw an interception on the next drive to take the air out of the crowd and add a little doom to the message boards.

They would and after the Wildcats defense made a couple of stops, the run game led by DJ Giddens and Treshaun Ward would start to take over.

Will Howard would find his groove again and he’d hit RJ Garcia III for a score.

He’d also catch a touchdown of his own later in the first half, but here on Message Board Geniuses there’s always someone pissed off, even something as fun as a trick play.

It was 35-0 at half and the second half was mostly backups playing sloppy football. Chris Tennant, the Wildcats kicker had the most impressive play, hitting a 51-yarder in the third.

Another later touchdown and the Cats would end this one up 45-0.

#17 TCU  42 – Colorado 45

By far the most entertaining game of the season so far, TCU took on Colorado and Deion Sanders in Fort Worth.

Let’s start with the pregame commentary.

Maybe they should have been nervous about a bit more?

Ok so this one started with TCU receiving the kick and promptly not doing much. 

Colorado took over possession and started taking over the game. First, Shedur Sanders drove down the field with very little resistance to put the Buffaloes up 7-0. An interception by Chandler Morris on the ensuing Horned Frogs possession had the TCU crowd shocked.

Ooof.

TCU would catch a break with a missed field goal by Colorado and then would tie the game up on a 7-yard Trey Sanders run.

Colorado would answer right back to make it 14-7 but later in the second quarter would cough up the ball leading to a short field that TCU would convert into a score, another Trey Sanders touchdown.

Unfortunately, Colorado had enough time and TCU had enough missed tackles to let the Buffaloes drive down the field and make it 17-14 at the break.

Colorado opened up the third quarter with a bang, this time it was Dylan Edwards for the 75-yard score.

In a back and forth second half, the two teams would trade leads six times, on six consecutive drives, with six touchdowns.

The only thing stronger than the Buffaloes offense was TCU fan opinions on Chandler Morris.

To be fair, it wasn’t the offense that struggled. As I said, they’d keep putting up touchdowns in the second half. But the Frogs could not stop Shedur Sanders at all.

The game winner ended up coming with just over four minutes left in the game. On a 4th and 2, Sanders would find Dylan Edwards who would take it 46-yards to put Colorado up 45-42.

TCU would get one last shot but on their own 4th down late in the fourth quarter, Jared Wiley was stopped just short of the sticks to put this one to bed.

Going to Costco on a Saturday? Not even in my worst moments would I wish that upon someone.

#18 Oregon State 42 – San Jose State 17

The Beavers and new quarterback DJ Uiagalelei opened their season with about as good a start as possible.

On the opening drive the former five star looked the part, going 3-3 for 33 yards through the air and adding 14 yards on the ground including a 1-yard score.

Oregon State would let the Trojans get a field goal early in the third but DJ would drive right back down the field and find Jack Velling for a score.

Still, you can’t please everyone.

Cooler heads would prevail.

DJ would run in another score before the half to make it 21-3.

In the third quarter the Beavers would fail to convert a fourth down after Jesiah Irish ran his route just short of the sticks.

The defense would respond however, stopping San Jose State on their own fourth down. Uiagalelei had one more brilliant drive in him capping it off with a 31-yard pitch and catch to Jerremiah Noga.

After leaving the game going 20-25 for 239 yards and 5 total TDs it’s safe to say the debut went well. When asked after the game how he felt, DJ had a great response.

“I could have made a sandwich back there.”

Beavers win this one 42-17.

#19 Wisconsin 38 – Buffalo 17

The Luke Fickell era is here for Wisconsin and it got off to a positive albeit rocky start.

Wisconsin would be forced to punt on its first drive and after forcing a three-and-out from Buffalo the Badger fans were caught off guard by this new thing called pace of play.

On the next drive Chez Mellusi and Braelon Allen would take turns torturing Buffalo’s run defense, ending with Mellusi punching it in from 1-yard out.

Buffalo wasn’t going anywhere yet however. They’d answer quickly with Cole Synder finding Cole Harrity for the touchdown to make it 7-7.

It’s a Cole world I guess.

Sorry, back to the game. Which at this point turned into a mess for about the whole second quarter. Wisconsin would punt it away but then come up with a stop on defense, only for new quarterback Tanner Mordecai to throw an interception.

Buffalo would respond to that by missing a field goal which then turned into the teams trading very short drives.

Wisconsin would find the endzone one more time before the second quarter closed, but they’d also let up a field goal. This one would go into the break 14-10 and some Wisconsin fans weren’t too pleased.

Luckily for that guy, and a bunch of other Wisconsinites, the second half would go much smoother for the Badgers.

After a three-and-out to start, Chez Mellusi did what he does breaking off an 89-yard touchdown run.

After another forced punt by the Badgers defense it was Braelon Allen’s turn again. He’d total 56 yards on the one drive, scoring from 6-yards out.

A field goal and another Braelon Allen touchdown later and this one was out of reach at 38-17. Any chance the second half calmed some of the first half fears?

Not a chance.

#20 Oklahoma 73 – Arkansas State 0

Year One for Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners did not go as well as the Sooner faithful hoped. To say the least. But game one of Year Two went very well.

Dillon Gabriel would find Drake Stoops on the first drive and Oklahoma was out to a quick 7-0 lead.

Venables was brought to OU for his defensive prowess and his defense showed up on Saturday. They would force Arkansas State into a three-and-out and then the third phase of the game, special teams showed up.

Gavin Freeman returned the ensuing punt 82-yards to the house.

Another punt forced by the defense then led to a Marcus Majors touchdown and before the first quarter was even halfway done, OU was up 21-0.

Dillon Gabriel would add two more touchdowns in the first half, one rushing and one throwing, to go along with his 300 passing yards. At the break it was 45-0.

Any complaints Sooner fans?

There ya go.

#21 North Carolina 31 – South Carolina 17

Well this one surprised me. I was on record picking South Carolina in this game and picking North Carolina to have some issues in Mack Brown’s 5th year back in Chapel Hill.

Well serves me right because North Carolina had no issues in this one. The Carolina defense would hold Heisman hopeful Spencer Rattler to a three-and-out before Drake Maye began his own Heisman campaign.

Omarion Hampton would cap off the opening drive with a Touchdown.

South Carolina would score two touchdowns and there was a little concern.

Drake Maye would respond, hitting Kobe Paysour for a 34-yard score to put North Carolina back up 17-14 going into the half.

The second half was all Tar Heels. They’d force a turnover before Omarion Hampton would get his second touchdown of the day.

Another punt and another Drake Maye TD and it was now 31-14 before the third quarter was over.

The Tar Heel defense would really show out in this one, despite the two touchdown drives given up. North Carolina had nine sacks in the game to go along with sixteen tackles for loss.

Bold take.

#22 Ole Miss 73 – Mercer 7

Jaxson Dart won the starting quarterback job and, as much as one can against Mercer, he showed why on Saturday.

He’d start the season with a 38-yard pass to Tre Harris and Ole Miss was out to a 7-0 lead.

Pete Golding was the big hire in Oxford and fans were excited to see him get to work.

That excitement lasted all of one play. Mercer quarterback Carter Peevy would pull the ball on the read option and take it 75-yards to the house on the first play.

Deep breaths all around y’all.

Jaxson Dart would find Tre Harris in an act of deja vu. Then, after Mercer fumbled the following kickoff, Jaxson Dart would find Tre Harris in an act of deja vu.

Quinshon Judkins, one of my favorite running backs in college football, got in on the action as well. He’d score from 1-yard out and then a little later in the second quarter he’d score from 3-yards out.

Halftime thoughts?

The audacity.

After Golding came up with another stop to open the second half, Jordan Watkins would house the punt return from 70-yards. Then…and stop me if you’ve heard this before…Jaxson Dart would find Tre Harris in an act of deja vu.

Ole Miss wins 73-7.

#23 Texas A&M 52 – New Mexico 10

Y’all, Conner Weigman is good. And he looked the part running Jimbo’s offense. Or Petrino’s. And while I’m sure Ags are tired of hearing those jokes I don’t think they give a damn right now.

The Lobos opening drive took a little bit of time but the Aggies would come up with the stop. Weigman would come on the field and get it done with his arm and legs on the first offensive possession. He’d hit Noah Thomas for the opening score.

Another punt forced, another Weigman touchdown, this time to Evan Stewart.

The Aggie defense would let up a touchdown but Conner would answer back with another TD to Noah Thomas. A little later, the defense would come up even bigger. Josh DeBerry intercepted Dylan Hopkins as the New Mexico QB threw a poor pass facing a ton of pressure.

Weigman was back at it, finding Noah Thomas for the receiver’s third touchdown of the day.

It was 35-7 at the half and Conner would get his fifth touchdown pass of the day in the third quarter to end this one early.

Aggies win this one 52-10.

#24 Tulane 37 – South Alabama 17

The Green Wave join us to start off the season in the top 25 and they’re coming off a NY6 bowl win.

It is New Orleans.

Tulane would force a fumble on South Alabama’s opening drive and Michael Pratt would then find Chris Brazzell II for a quick score. Another stop and a field goal and it was 10-0 Tulane. The fans still weren’t totally happy.

What one NY6 win does to some people.

South Alabama would get a score to make it 10-7, but Pratt would respond quickly hitting Jha’Quan Jackson for a 47-yard touchdown.

A forced punt would lead to another Pratt touchdown and all of the sudden it was 24-7. After trading turnovers, the Jaguars would connect on a field goal and Tulane would take a 24-10 lead into the half. Not great, not bad.

A fumble by Tulane’s Iverson Celestine to start the third quarter led to a South Alabama touchdown and all of the sudden the visiting team in Mobile were nervous.

Pratt would have one more answer in him. He’d move the Green Wave down the field, finding Brazell II again to make it 31-17.

It was enough for the Tulane defense as they would hold the rest of the way. Unfortunately, Michael Pratt would get himself a little dinged up late in the game. He had a noticeable limp and fans weren’t happy.

Tulane would get a couple more field goals thanks to Pratt’s efforts and win it by the score 37-17.

#25 Iowa 24 – Utah State 14

The last game on our Top 25 was a fitting matchup between two teams that tested allegiances on our own little team here at MBG. But it was a fun one nonetheless.

Utah State’s punter got the shout out before the game and he lived up to the hype. So too did Cade McNamara and the new look Iowa offense. At least for the first drive or two.

Iowa would take the opening kickoff 58-yards setting up a short field for McNamara and the new look offense. The goal is 25 points per game and for at least the first quarter it looked like a sure bet. McNamara would hit Seth Anderson for the 36-yard score to go up 7-0 early.

A forced three-and-out got Cade back on the field and he’d lead the Hawkeyes to another score, this one to Erick All.

After that? The Iowa we’ve all come to know and love came right back on our screens. They’d keep coming up with stops, holding Utah State to a field goal and picking off Aggies QB Cooper Legas in the second quarter. But the offense couldn’t do much of anything only mustering a field goal.

Pretty much, yeah.

Utah State actually outscored Iowa the rest of the way 14-10. Only a Kaleb Johnson 3-yard score early in the fourth quarter put some life into the Hawkeyes’ fanbase.

Iowa would get the win 24-10, but nobody was too happy about it. Well maybe a couple Utah State fans I know.