Before we pile on Michigan and Rich Rodriguez — we’re waiting a few paragraphs — let’s take a positive spin on Utah’s not-so-shocking, 25-23 victory Saturday at the renovated Little House.
The win sets up a season in which the nation’s underdog- loving eyes will focus on the Mountain West Conference. This is where hated rivals Utah and Brigham Young will claw for the one big bowl scrap given to the non-BCS conferences.
Utah should jump into the top 25 on Tuesday, probably making the Utes and BYU the only non-BCS conference schools ranked. Utah’s biggest remaining threats — Oregon State, Texas Christian and BYU — all come to Salt Lake City. BYU visits Washington on Saturday then gets UCLA at home.
Not that we’re jumping ahead — what’s 3 1/2 months? — but with the way Utah played Saturday, a BCS bowl is realistic. The Utes have 16 returning starters and, most important, a senior quarterback. Brian Johnson torched Michigan for 21-of-33 for 305 yards and a touchdown.
“We aren’t intimidated by anyone,” Johnson said.
Michigan blues.
You can count on Michigan not intimidating anyone. Poor Rodriguez. A crack has emerged in the once-vaunted spread offense in that it’s too reliant on the quarterback. If you don’t have a quarterback who can run it, you end up with what Michigan had through three quarters: 26 yards rushing, 126 passing and many more boos.
Michigan also broke in its $226 million renovated Michigan Stadium with a defense that gave up 7.5 yards per play in the first half. Not a good start for defensive coordinator Scott Shafer, who came over from Stanford.
ACC is DOA.
Remember three years ago when the ACC was the in conference? Saturday confirmed it has returned to being a basketball league. Its heavy preseason favorite entered the season proclaiming, “This is Clemson’s year,” then looked like the Clemson of old.
Alabama, picked for middle of the pack in the SEC, rolled, 34-10. However, that was only the tip of the melting ACC iceberg that today couldn’t capsize a rubber ducky.
No. 17 Virginia Tech can’t beat East Carolina on a neutral field, and Virginia looks like Virginia Commonwealth — which has a swell intramural champion — in losing to Southern California, 52-7.
Maryland barely beats Delaware 14-7, and North Carolina just nudges McNeese State, 35-27. When your hallmark game of the opening weekend is Wake Forest’s win at Baylor, it’s time to get comfortable in the BCS basement. On Tuesday, Clemson and Wake should be the only ACC schools in the top 25.
The Tigers’ loss was appalling. They were outgained 419-188 and continued the theory that if you put a sign reading “BIG GAME” above your fireplace, you can beat Clemson in the comforts of your own home.
Buckeyes hurting.
No word on tailback Chris Wells’ foot injury is expected before today, but it appears he’s doubtful for No. 2 Ohio State’s Sept. 13 showdown at No. 3 USC. His three replacements Saturday against Youngstown State combined for 69 yards on 15 carries. Losing to the Trojans won’t be a disaster. It’s early, and if Ohio State still runs the table in the mediocre Big Ten it could sneak into the BCS Championship.
However, the Buckeyes can’t afford another dismantling like they suffered in the last two title games. The voters will be fooled twice. They won’t be fooled a third time.
Huskers start over.
New coach Bo Pelini replaced the entire back seven and Nebraska still gave up 350 yards, including two 50-yard plays and three 80-yard drives, in a 47-24 win over Western Michigan.
A lingering problem may be in the returning defensive line of seniors Zach Potter, Ty Steinkuhler and Barry Turner, plus junior Ndamukong Suh.
Quotable quote.
Mike Sherman, after the 18-14 loss to Arkansas State in his Texas A&M coaching debut: “I saw some positive things to build off of.”
