I would like to open this week’s round-up with an apology. Unfortunately, I suffered from an illness throughout all of last week and I was unable to write week one’s round-up article. While I’m very disappointed that I didn’t finish the piece, I’m even more excited about writing this one for week two. So, let’s get started covering the most important games of the weekend:
Kansas (1-0) @ No. 17 Coastal Carolina (1-0)
Result: Kansas: 22 – Coastal Carolina: 49
The Lance Leipold era of Kansas football started out strong in Week 1 as the Jayhawks did something they had not been able to do since October 26th, 2019: win a football game. Sure, it was against an FCS opponent, but when you’re quite possibly the worst Power Five football program in the nation, you take what you can get. Sadly for Kansas fans, this week’s scheduling wasn’t as kind as Week 1’s, as the Jayhawks traveled east to take on the Chanticleers, who have lost just one game over their past 14 matchups. Either way, Kansas wouldn’t go down without a fight, as they took a 9-7 lead in the first quarter off the back of a TD by freshman RB Devin Neal. The Chanticleers proved to be too much, however, as they rattled off 21 unanswered points in the 2nd and didn’t look back in the second half, taking a 49-22 win.
Coastal QB Grayson McCall is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the group of five, and he did nothing to hurt his case in this one. McCall finished 17/21 with 245 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, and a rushing TD. Meanwhile, junior RB Reese White led the way on the ground with 102 yards on 14 carries and 3 rushing touchdowns. Last but not least, one of my favorite under-the-radar WR prospects, Jaivon Heiligh, finished with 6 receptions, 122 yards and a score.
On the Kansas side, QB Jason Bean was the main threat to the defense, as he racked up 102 yards on the ground and 2 rushing touchdowns despite a lackluster day through the air.
No. 14 Oregon @ No. 3 Ohio State
Result: Oregon: 35 – Ohio State: 28
While the rest of the top-four took on cupcakes this week, Ohio State was the main draw of the weekend against a ranked Oregon team. In a really back and forth game, it was Oregon that stunned most fans and pundits as they took down the Buckeyes behind a dazzling performance by senior RB C.J. Verdell. Verdell turned 20 carries into 161 yards and 2 TDs, including a 77-yard score. Looking back, Verdell seemed to be one of the top backs in the 2021 class going into last season, but he was never able to get anything going in 2020 and decided to forego the draft. Now, his stock seems to be rising for next year’s draft off the back of two strong performances.
CJ VERDELL 👏👏👏
He notched 3 TDs as the Ducks got the road W against Ohio State! pic.twitter.com/m7uHZjH3PR
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 11, 2021
Alongside Verdell, Ducks QB Anthony Brown also put together a strong display, completing 17 of his 35 attempts for 236 yards and 2 scores. Brown really spread the ball around, as no Oregon receiver caught more than 3 balls. Meanwhile, on the opposing side, Ohio State didn’t live up to expectations, but they’ve begun to show their hand as to what talent is going to see the field often. First of all, 4th-year RB Master Teague seems to be almost completely out of the gameplan, as he didn’t see a single touch. Meanwhile, it was Redshirt-Freshman RB Miyan Williams leading the charge with 14 carries for 77 yards and 3 catches for 38 yards. Alongside Williams, the Buckeyes also gave highly-touted freshman RB TreVeyon Henderson a lot of run, as he ran 12 times for 54 yards and a score. At WR, most expected Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson to lead the way, as they both had outstanding 2020 seasons and expect to be highly sought after by the NFL following this season, but there were many arguments about which of the Buckeyes WRs would take over the third spot. However, it definitely seems to be sophomore Jaxon Smith-Njigba (JSN), who caught 7 passes for a team-leading 145 yards and 2 scores. Alongside JSN, Olave and Wilson both showed why they deserve their recognition, with both players eclipsing 100 receiving yards.
No. 5 Texas A&M (1-0) @ Colorado (1-0)
Result: Texas A&M: 10 – Colorado: 7
Texas A&M came into this season with high hopes, and many analysts agreed that they should be one of the best teams in the country. However, the Aggies didn’t perform like one of the best teams in the country against an average Colorado team this week. Part of their struggles may have come from QB Haynes King going down with an injury on the second drive. However, backup Zach Calzada had been challenging King for the starting job throughout camp. Calzada didn’t look so good in this game though, as he completed just 18 passes on 38 attempts, gained a paltry 183 yards through the air, and scored just one TD. Meanwhile, the Aggies rushing attack, which is usually the staple of their game, also struggled. Junior Isaiah Spiller, who many expect to be a top RB prospect this offseason, only mustered 20 yards on 8 attempts. However, Spiller did catch 6 passes for 56 yards, including the go-ahead touchdown to win the game. Meanwhile, Spiller’s running mate, sophomore Devon Achane, turned in a good performance; rushing for 50 yards on 9 attempts and catching 3 passes for 24 yards.
On the opposing side, Colorado’s offense also struggled greatly in the passing game, with Brendon Lewis completing just 13 of his 25 attempts and only gaining 89 yards while turning the ball over once. However, Lewis was able to move the ball some on the ground as he gained 76 yards on 9 rushes. Meanwhile, Colorado’s offensive leader Jarek Broussard rushed for 51 yards and the only touchdown for the Buffaloes. Fellow running back Alex Fontenot also added another 39 yards on 12 attempts.
Overall, this has to be a disappointing performance for both squads, as Texas A&M would have liked to dispatch Colorado much more thoroughly and appear to have lost Haynes King until at least mid-October. Meanwhile, Colorado was sniffing a huge upset throughout the game, but they weren’t able to pull out the win. Both squads will need to put together more on offense to pick up more wins throughout the rest of the year.
Toledo (1-0) @ No. 8 Notre Dame (1-0)
Result: Toledo: 29 – Notre Dame: 32
After a week one matchup between Notre Dame and Florida State ended in a close game, many expected both teams to be strong this year. However, it appears that both of these historically good programs are struggling. Florida State lost a nail-biter on the final play against FCS Jacksonville State (who lost 31-0 against UAB in week 1), and Notre Dame struggled against MAC opponent Toledo. Honestly, there’s not much to highlight in terms of individual performances for Notre Dame in what was a very lackluster performance, but a short-lived Jack Coan injury gave us our first look at live-game action for four-star freshman QB Tyler Buchner. Buchner made an incredibly compelling case that he should be the starter, as he went 3 for 3 passing, gaining 78 passing yards, and a score alongside 68 rushing yards on 7 attempts. Personally, Buchner was my second-ranked QB in the freshman class behind Quinn Ewers, and I think he definitely gives the Fighting Irish a much better chance to win than the journeyman Coan.
No. 10 Iowa @ No. 9 Iowa State
Result: Iowa: 27 – Iowa St: 17
The battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy saw two top-10 teams face each other in one of the most anticipated games of the weekend. However, the matchup didn’t quite live up to expectations. Iowa State stars Brock Purdy and Breece Hall both struggled to get the ball moving, as Hall completed 13 of 27 pass attempts for 138 yards and threw three interceptions. Even as a fourth-year starter, Purdy was benched for redshirt-freshman Hunter Dekkers because of his poor play. Meanwhile, the expected RB1 of the 2022 class, Breece Hall, also performed poorly, carrying the ball 16 times for just 69 yards, 1 TD, and a lost fumble, which was recovered for an Iowa touchdown.
Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes also struggled to move the ball, as starting QB Spencer Petras went 11/21 for 106 yards and standout RB Tyler Goodson rushed 21 times for just 55 yards. However, the Iowa defense was the real star of this matchup, as they scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery, and their three interceptions led to 13 points for their offense.
It was a stunning performance for an Iowa State offense that was expected to be amongst the top offensive teams in the country. QB Brock Purdy was once considered a strong contender to become an early draft pick early on in his career. However, those dreams appear to have been dashed as he chose to forego the draft last season and now he’s in danger of losing his spot for the Cyclones.
Stanford (0-1) @ No. 14 USC (1-0)
Result:Stanford: 42 – USC: 28
One of three unranked teams to upset ranked teams this week, Stanford had themselves a day in Los Angeles. Sophomore QB Tanner McKee completed 16 of 23 passes for 234 yards and 2 TDs while junior RB Nathaniel Peat put in a surprise performance on the ground with 115 yards on just 6 attempts, including an 87-yard score. Meanwhile, Stanford’s lead running back, Austin Jones, couldn’t get off the ground against the Trojan defense – as he ran 10 times and gained just 13 yards.
HE GONE ⚡️@PeatNathaniel breaks free for a 87 yard touchdown run for @StanfordFball! pic.twitter.com/z6eV9lyOxq
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 12, 2021
Similar to Jones, the entire USC team didn’t seem to get off the ground in this one. In fact, the very first play of the game saw the Trojan kicker get ejected for targeting, and it all went downhill from there. Highly-touted, junior QB Kedon Slovis had a tough go against the Cardinal defense as he went 27/42 for 223 yards, a TD, and a pick-6. Surprisingly, as a whole, the Trojans seemed to have no issue moving the ball, as they gained 408 yards of total offense including 94 yards on the ground for senior RB Vavae Malepeai. However, they had some long drives fizzle out in the red zone and could not stop Stanford’s offensive attack. All in all, the upset caused shockwaves throughout the Trojan program, as the university decided to move on from head coach Clay Helton just two games into the season. Now, USC may be in rebuild-mode throughout the rest of the season as they search for a new head man.
No. 15 Texas (1-0) @ Arkansas (1-0)
Result: Texas: 21 – Arkansas: 40
Arkansas HC Sam Pittman just notched another statement win for the Razorbacks program. After former HC Chad Morris’ two-year tenure with the Hogs ended in just four wins, Pittman has already surpassed Morris’ win total in just 12 games as head man. The former Georgia offensive line coach came as a surprise to many when he was named head coach, but he definitely has everyone’s attention now. Pittman’s defense stymied Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns time and time again in this game, as superstar RB Bijan Robinson managed just 3.6 yards per attempt on 19 carries and starting QB Hudson Card went 8/15 thru the air and managed just 13 yards on 8 rushing attempts, resulting in him getting pulled for backup Casey Thompson (since named starter for next week). Thompson faired better statistically, completing 5 of 8 passes for 57 yards, rushing for 44 yards on 7 attempts, and running in two TDs in just two drives. However, all of Thompson’s production came late in the game after Arkansas had already secured a 33-7 lead.
Meanwhile, the Razorbacks boasted a dynamic rushing attack, as 4 different running backs (and QB K.J. Jefferson) all eclipsed 40 rushing yards, and the team averaged 7.1 yards per attempt. With this exceptional ground performance, Jefferson only passed the ball 19 times, and completed 14 of his attempts, gaining 138 yards thru the air. Treylon Burks, my current WR1 for 2022, caught 5 passes for just 37 yards, but the Hogs didn’t need him to do much in this one.
No. 21 Utah (1-0) @ BYU (1-0)
Result: Utah: 17 – BYU: 26
It seemed as though the Cougars captured lightning in a bottle last season with Zach Wilson at the helm. However, head coach Kalani Sitake seems to have built something that’s going to last. Redshirt-Sophomore QB Jaren Hall hasn’t wilted under the pressure of following up Wilson, and is putting together a strong season thus far. In this one, Hall completed 18 of 30 attempts for 149 yards and 3 touchdowns while adding 92 yards on the ground on 8 attempts. Up against a tough Utah defense, Hall continually made plays while evading pressure and showcased an impressive ability to throw on the run. Meanwhile, star RB Tyler Allgeier saw some tough sledding against the tough Utes defensive line, but he still managed 102 yards on 27 attempts.
Meanwhile, former Baylor star QB Charlie Brewer put up a decent showing for the Utes, completing 15 of 26 attempts for 147 yards, a TD, and an INT. However, the most impressive Utah performance came from RB Micah Bernard, who rushed 12 times for 146 yards and a score.
Overall, this rendition of the Holy War turned out to be a defensive struggle and the Cougars were able to put the game away with a stifling 35:26 time of possession, limiting the Utes to just 10 drives.
Notable Individual Performances
Passing
Western Kentucky QB Bailey Zappe @ Army (L 35-38): 28/40, 435 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Zappe came into the Hilltoppers program as a transfer, joining from FCS Houston Baptist alongside his former coach, Zach Kittley, and WRs Jerreth and Josh Sterns. Kittley runs a very pass-happy, air raid offense, and the Hilltoppers are likely to always be among the leaders in passing yardage with both Kittley and Zappe in the fold.
Memphis Freshman QB Seth Henigan @ Arkansas St (W 55-50): 22/33, 417 yards, 5 TDs
Henigan has filled in admirably for injured Arizona transfer Grant Gunnell. So admirably, in fact, that this might be his job to lose now. He’s pieced together two strong, back-to-back performances and really given head coach Ryan Silverfield something to think about before Gunnell returns in the coming weeks.
Virginia QB Brennan Armstrong vs Illinois (W 42-14): 27/36, 405 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT
Armstrong is catapulting himself into the draft conversation after taking the Cavaliers’ starting job in 2020. Last season, Armstrong gained 235 passing yards and 61 rushing yards per game, but completed just 58.6% of his 268 pass attempts. This year, Armstrong has focused on the passing game – completing 71.6% of his 67 attempts through 2 games with 7 TDs and just 1 INT.
What a day for Brennan Armstrong 😤 @UVAFootball
🔹 405 Pass Yds
🔹 5 Pass TDs pic.twitter.com/MEBu2b4iQ0— ACC Network (@accnetwork) September 11, 2021
Rushing
Kentucky RB Chris Rodriguez Jr vs Missouri (W 35-28): 27 carries, 206 yards, 3 TDs
Rodriguez was PFF’s second-highest graded RB in 2020 (behind only Javonte Williams) despite only averaging 13.2 rush attempts per game. This year, however, Kentucky has leaned heavily on Rodriguez over their first two games, and he hasn’t let them down. After starting the season with a 125-yard performance against Louisiana-Monroe, he put together yet another strong performance against Missouri this week. Rodriguez is definitely making a name for himself and will likely be able to put himself into draft consideration before the season is over. However, Rodriguez hasn’t proven himself to be a capable receiver yet in his career, with just 5 catches across three seasons of action.
TCU RB Zach Evans vs California (W 34-32): 22 carries, 190 yards, 1 TD
Evans is already one of the top names at the RB position in what is shaping up to be a loaded 2023 NFL draft class. He didn’t get much run in the Horned Frogs’ opener against Duquesne, but he could not be stopped by the Golden Bears’ defense in week 2.
Memphis RB Brandon Thomas @ Arkansas State (W 55-50): 18 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs
Memphis has been churning out NFL RBs in recent years, with players like Antonio Gibson and Kenneth Gainwell playing on Sundays. Sophomore Brandon Thomas may be up next. He’s now averaging 9.9 yards per attempt after 2 games with the Tigers and has 3 rushing TDs as well. However, Nicholls St and Arkansas St definitely aren’t known for their defenses. Thomas will definitely be one to watch going forward as the Tigers host SEC-opponent Mississippi State next Saturday.
Receiving
Memphis WR Calvin Austin III @ Arkansas State (W 55-50): 6 receptions, 239 yards, 3 TDs
The Tigers offense as a whole was fantastic on Saturday and Austin was no exception. He averaged 39.8 yards per reception and scored on half of his catches. However, similarly to the aforementioned Thomas, Austin still needs to prove his mettle against better defenses before viewers get too excited.
Boise State WR Khalil Shakir vs UTEP (W 54-13): 7 receptions, 166 yards
Shakir had one of the best statistical seasons at WR in 2020, and he hasn’t slowed down this year. He’s already racked up 12 receptions with 257 yards and 2 scores across the Broncos’ first two games. Boise has a tough schedule this year, as they’ve already faced UCF and face both Oklahoma State and BYU in the coming weeks. Shakir will have plenty of opportunities to prove to NFL scouts that he’s worth a draft pick.
OMG KHALIL SHAKIR, WHAT A GRAB #CFB pic.twitter.com/YvFn8HfyaD
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) September 11, 2021
Utah State WR Deven Thompkins vs North Dakota (W 48-24): 8 receptions, 172 yards, 1 TD
Thompkins has had a solid career for the Aggies thus far, starting at WR since his sophomore season. As a senior this year, Thompkins is averaging 8 catches a game and 16.6 yards per reception, and his team is 2-0 with an upset win against Washington State. Thompkins is a sneaky draft prospect because of the size of his university and his own size, as he stands at just 5’8, 155 lbs.
That’s it for Week 2, see you next week as we look to break down Week 3 of college football. In the meantime, you can follow Kyle for more college and Devy takes at @KL_Fantasy on Twitter.
